Her jaw dropped as she recognised where they were going. "Jessie! No, we can't afford anything from there," she protested, tugging on his arm. "Seriously, the dresses are beautiful, but ... it's just work, I don't have to be pretty, just presentable will do."

"You are already pretty. And these dresses are going to be beautiful." He smiled and held the door open for her. "I won't take no for an answer. So go on, in you go."

"But ... Jessie, it's so expensive," she whispered, slipping past him and into the boutique. Of course she wanted to buy from Koyliak, her clothes were the very best you could buy, but ... on a limited budget, and for work, at that?

"You shush. We'll be off the bargain rack." He smiled, blinking rapidly for show. He knew there was no such a thing in Koy's store.

Dove hadn't been in a store like this since she was a young teenager, before the bad came into her relatively innocent life. As the daughter of rich parents, she had been used to nothing but the best, but now she was more than happy to make do with what came her way. Being in this boutique, surrounded by sumptuous fabrics and gorgeous designs, made her feel like a child again. "So ... what happens now?" she asked Jessie, still whispering.

Before Jessie could answer, an attendant was already sizing up Dove. "This would bring out your lovely eyes." She held up a dress and draped it over Dove's shoulder.

"Uh ..." Dove looked over at Jessie, more than slightly panicked as her violin was taken out of her hands. The attendant took her by the hand and started to tug her towards a changing area. "Wait, I need my ... Jessie?"

Jessie nabbed the violin and followed behind them. "It's alright, I'm right here." He assured her as she was lead towards changing rooms. Jessie found the husband's chair and settled in, waiting for the fashion show to begin.

Well, he would certainly entertained while he was out there. The attendant seemed to be of the opinion that Dove wasn't moving quickly enough to change, and so Jessie was treated to a loud squeak of indignation and the sound of his friend in full 'I-can-take-care-of-myself-thank-you-very-much' mode as she waved the woman out and closed the curtain behind her. A few minutes later, and a request for a hand with the zip, and Dove stepped out, hands held out to her sides as she looked down at the rich green silk she had been swathed in. Her eyes found Jessie's. "I look like a daffodil," she muttered to him.

Jessie hugged the violin to his chest and while Dove was getting changed, sent Jacob a text message, urging him to call. His phone was slid into his pocket when Dove came out of the fitting room. "It's not that bad." he grinned and shook his head. "Well, maybe it is. Try another one?"

She did not look impressed as her hand was caught by the attendant, who already had three other dresses waiting, and was tugged back into the changing space. "Stop texting Jacob, he'll be in touch," she called out to her friend, somewhat muffled in the folds of material as one dress went over her head to be replaced with another. This one had a definite draft in the lower back area as she walked out, peering over her shoulder to blink in surprise at how much of her back was visible. She looked over at Jessie and wiggled her backside at him. "Does my bum look big in this?"

"Yes, mother." He muttered under his breath and waited for her to emerge once again. "Dove, you don't have a big bum to begin with. It looks cute on you." He smiled and nodded with encouragement.

She twirled, touching the smooth material admiringly. Then her attention turned to examining just how low that back was in the mirror. "I'll be flashing my bumcrack every time I sit down," she pointed out, looking over at the attendant. "I'm a musician, I can't be showing off what curves I don't have when people are supposed to be listening to the music. Can I?" She turned to Jessie for support.

"Right, right. Something a little more conservative, please?" He saw that Dove liked the dress and he was going to buy it on the sly, anyway. She could wear it to a social function or something.

The attendant nodded, and Dove found herself yanked into the changing area again. This time, she was out in less than two minutes, practically bouncing with excitement. If Jessie had thought she liked the previous dress, then she was positively in love with this one. Teal, beautifully embroidered and decorated across the bust, and a full skirt that swept the floor ... "What do you think? Where's my fiddle?"

"Oh Dovey, you look absolutely stunning." He smiled proudly and offered her the violin case. "Twirl for me." He brought out his phone to take her picture.

"In a minute." She waved her hand at him, glancing over at the attendant. "Is it alright if I play something quickly? Just to see if I can be comfortable in this?" As the woman nodded, she lifted her violin from the case. Being surprisingly practical for a girl of her age and occasional dappiness, she'd already tuned the instrument, lifting it to her shoulder and drawing the bow across the strings in complete confidence.

Jessie was busy, snapping away pictures of her on his cell phone. "You'll be first violin in no time." He grinned and leaned back in the chair. "That is just beautiful, Dove."

It was a real effort not to play the piece through to the end; the one thing Dove had a real love for, besides Jessie, was music. But she smiled and put the instrument down, groping for the price tag on the dress. "I don't want to be first fiddle," she snorted with laughter. "Unless it's in an orchestra that I know really well, or something."

When she came over, he hugged her with the one free arm he had. "That was amazing!" He smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He kept his arm around her as he lead her through the crowd and past it. "You are a virtuoso. It doesn't matter what other people are playing, you just pick up on it. I wish I had that kind of talent."

"You do have that kind of talent," she poked his tummy as they walked. "Sure, you don't really know which end of a recorder to put in your mouth, but you can take one look at an engine that's broken, and you know exactly how to make it right again. You can't buy that kind of instinct, Jessie."

"Oof!" He laughed when she poked him in the stomach. "Ah, that's just grease monkey stuff. You, people want to listen to you play. They gather around and you make people smile. It's amazing."

"I can't do anything else, though," she pointed out, steering him blatantly towards a cafe she was growing very fond of. "I can't fix a car, or make someone better when they're ill, or understand politics, or anything like that. Just play music. I can't even sing."

"You make me feel better." He nodded for emphasis. "Like in the cellar. I'd have gone crazy without you in there." He gave her an extra squeeze before laying the garment bag onto a chair, then pulling one out for her. "You're my best friend, Dove. You know how to do that very well."

"Well, yeah, but ... we're family," she shrugged, dropping a mocking little curtsey before sliding into the seat. "And you do the same for me. You've been looking after me for years, when I was crazy nuts and hurting you. The least I can do is be normal when you need me to be."

He helped to scoot her chair in, then sat down across the table from her. "You had a very good reason for being the way you were. It wasn't you, Dovey. It was what those men did to you that made you that way. That's why Jacob's there, right now. To put a stop to it so nobody else has to go through what we did, ever again."

"I know, and I'm more grateful to him than I can express, but ..." Dove sighed softly, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "You have to stop living in the past. Deal with it and let it go, or you'll end up like I was. And I don't know who fixed me, so you might end up staying that way."

He reached for her hand and gave a gentle squeeze. "I don't know, Dove. It's like I kept that part of me down for so long, that it's starting to catch up. Now that we've become safe and everything is good, it's like the wall is coming down that protected me and my mind. I have nightmares."

"It's a good thing," she murmured gently. "The more you talk about it, and let yourself feel it, the easier it will be for you to move away from it. It's not who or what you are anymore, Jessie, and Jacob's making sure it won't come back to haunt you. But for him to be completely successful, you have to let it go. All of it."

"I'm trying." he nodded slowly, a slow smile, rueful smile, curled his lips. "When we go see Jacob, and help him finish the job, I think that's when I'll be able to let it all go. I think about our friends that we left behind, Dove. I wish we could have taken them all with us. I wonder what's become of them."

"No feeling guilty about getting out," she tapped his hand. "You promised. Because if you start getting guilty, then I will, too. You only did it because of me."

He huffed a small laugh and shook his head. "We're going to set them all free, Dove. I just hope and pray for them all, that they stick together and find the kind of people that will care. Care like Jacob cares. I just want them all to find happiness, like we did."

"Then that's what we'll do," she nodded firmly. "There's got to be some place like that here, with all its diversity. But first the big question." She looked up, and a waiter came over to them with a smile. "What are you eating, because I'm really hungry."

"Me too." he grinned when he looked up at the waiter. "I think I'll have a bowl of split pea soup and a croissant." He turned his gaze onto Dove. All the while, he was glancing back and forth from Dove and the waiter, making wiggly eye brows.

Her eyes widened when she realised what Jessie was getting at with his obvious facial gestures. She glanced back at the waiter, and blushed on cue. "Uh ... uhm, I'll have the same," she said hurriedly. "And a jug of water, please?" There was the smile that came out when she was being nice to strangers, and as soon as the waiter's back was turned, she smacked Jessie's hand indignantly. "You are so bad!"

"And a jug of water, please?" He curled his hands up under his chin and bat his eyes. "I'm bad? You were so flirting with the waiter!" He laughed out loud and grinned a broad, toothy grin. "I think it's time to find you a boyfriend."

"I was being polite!" Dove protested laughingly, prodding at his knees under the table with her toes. "I said please, how is that flirting?" She blushed again, rolling her eyes. "A boyfriend? Yeah, 'cos it's going to be as easy as that."

"Blushing, batting your eyes. Mmhmm." he chuckled and shook his head. "I'm sure I could get his phone number for you." Jessie sat back as the waiter arrived with their water. He started glancing back and forth between them, trying to urge Dove to ask the waiter for his number.

All that got was a slightly sharper kick under the table and a pointed look before she looked up with a smile to the waiter. "Thank you." He smiled in return and moved away, and Dove made a face at Jessie. "If you got his number, it would be because he fancied you, angel face."

"Ow!" he laughed and watched as the waiter walked off. "No way. He's not into guys." He grinned with a shake of his head. "My gaydar is flat right now. No register of anything."

Ben walked along, at a slow pace, with his hands in his pockets. "Yanno, don't get asked out that often. Especially at work." He grinned and gave Dove a good once over with his startingly blue eyes. "For a minute, I thought he was hitting on me for himself."

Dove glanced up at him, blushingly shy and laughing at his comment. "Another time maybe he would, but he's pretty monogamous right now," she informed Ben with a smile. "And I didn't exactly ask you out. Not that I didn't want to," she added hurriedly. "I don't ... I'm not a going out kind of person usually."

"He seems like an alright kind of guy." A shrug then and he kicked a pinecone out of the way. "You're pretty up front, aren't you?" He smiled again and sniffled. "Not that it's a bad thing. I admire honesty."

"I'm not up front," she defended herself automatically before thinking about it. "At least, I don't think I am. Sorry, I'm complicated." She shrugged, glancing up at him again. "Do you want a tissue? I've got one here, somewhere."

"Complicated." He nodded slowly and kept his hands in his pockets. "No, I'm alright. Just the moisture in the air." he looked around, thoughtfully, then back to her. "Not axe murdering complicated?"

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "No, just ... complicated," she assured him. "I'm hard to explain. If you stick around, you might find out how." Feeling that perhaps this was a little too optimistic for a first outing, Dove then cleared her throat, looking at the ground in front of her feet. "How long have you worked at the cafe?"

"Almost sounds like you want me to stick around." He nudged her with his elbow softly. "I've only been working there for a couple of months. I want to go into theater, but getting a break's kind of hard in this town." He shrugged a bit and continued. "I know it seems weird, but I just like to perform for an audience."

"You're an actor?" Dove's face lit up. She completely understood a love of performing; after all, it was pretty close to what she loved. "Have you been in any plays?"

At first he wasn't sure of what lit up her face, the fact that he was an actor and she could relate, or the fact that he was an actor and thought it was silly. "Yeah, in high school. We did L'il Abner and I was L'il Abner." He grinned crookedly then. "I played Putzie in Grease and the year before that, I was in the chorus for Bye Bye Birdie."

"That's wonderful! Isn't it fantastic, getting up there and seeing all those people just in the moment with you?" Yes, she was gushing; yes, her reaction was perhaps a little too excited. But Dove hadn't really met anyone else who enjoyed making people smile the way she did. And the fact that he was drop dead gorgeous wasn't exactly putting her off, either.

"Yes!" He nearly gushed right back. "I love to watch them sing along, tap their feet. There's no other feeling like it." He remembered himself and nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty cool. You sing and dance, too?"

Dove burst out laughing at that. She couldn't imagine herself singing or dancing on a stage; it was too ridiculous. "Oh, no," she giggled. "I wouldn't be able to do that, I'm too shy. But I play music, and people seem to enjoy it, so ... I suppose we sort of feel the same things about performing?"

"Oh, you're an instrumentalist." He nodded, "I can dig that. What's your axe? I'd say that we feel the same about performing. Nothing like a live audience."

"My ... axe?" It wasn't a phrase Dove had ever come across, and she frowned comically, confused. "I didn't know you could play an axe."

It was Ben's turn to laugh out loud. "Axe, as in instrument. It's a rock and roll term, I guess." He looked over at her with curiosity. "Don't get out much, do you?"

She giggled again, a little uncomfortable. "No, not really," she admitted shyly. "I haven't been in Rhy'Din very long, and before that we moved around a lot, so I don't really know about slang. But, uh, my axe ... I don't really have one."

"Hey, it's ok," he'd felt and seen how uncomfortable she had gotten. "I can understand moving around. My parents were both into the theater so we went from place to place. Private tutors and all that." He shrugged again. "How can you like to perform if you don't have an instrument that you like to play?" He was confused and scratched his head.

"Oh! Oh, I didn't mean it like that," she hurried to assure him, laughing a little. "I mean, well, I can play anything. I have a violin, at the moment, but if you gave me a random instrument, I could play it for you. It's an odd talent, I know."

"Oh wow, that's not odd, that's neat." His smile returned with the dawning of understanding. "Wish I had that kind of talent. Was born with the love for the stage, but two left feet and a tin ear. Took a lot of classes and training."

"Oh, I had private lessons when I was a child," she added, "learning how to read music and such, you know? And I was going to go to the Royal Academy of Music ..." She trailed off. Sharing something she wasn't entirely sure of herself probably wasn't the way she wanted to go here. "Well, it didn't happen," she shrugged with a smile. "But it's hard to forget how much you love something."

"Well, with a talent like that, you only needed to learn the basics. The rest came naturally." Realizing that they'd reached the theater, he frowned slightly. Enjoying the conversation too much to abruptly stop it to sit in silence for two hours. He came up with a better plan. "Let's go get some hot chocolate, instead. We can watch the travelling minstrels and talk more about music?"

When pulled into the coffee shop, he was grateful for the warmth within. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. "Oh man, that smells so good." When his eyes opened, he looked down at her. "So I guess that means that we're past phase one and at the doorstep of phase two." He led her to the counter and ordered two fancy double chocolate hot cocoas.

"Phase two?" Now she really was confused. He seemed to talk in a completely different language at times. She understood all the words, but the way he put them together made it impossible for her to comprehend his meaning.

He paid for the cocoas and carried them both over to a table so she wouldn't have to unwind her hands from his warm arm until they sat down. "See, I figure it like this. People meet, exchange pleasantries, and start to get to know each other. That's phase one. Phase two," he sat the cocoa down and pulled her chair out for her, "is when people get to know each other a little more. They see each other and go on dates."

"And this is a date now?" Dove blinked curiously, sliding into the chair he held out for her. "What was it before, if it wasn't a date? Do you really want to be on a date with me? I'm really not that interesting."

"Well," he scootched her in and went around the table to take a seat of his own, "we're getting to know each other a little bit more. Next time, it'll be a date." He nodded with a grin, picking up the cocoa to take a sip, leaving him with whipped cream on the end of his nose. "The third phase is when people start to get serious. Exclusive dating, boyfriend, girlfriend stuff. And then they get to the last phase, if they're lucky. Marriage."

"You think there'll be a next time?" Dove couldn't help the pleased expression that slipped over her features on hearing this, or the laugh that rose on seeing cream decorating the end of his nose. She reached over without thinking and wiped it away with her thumb, glancing at the sweet treat decorating her digit now. "I've never done this before, I'll be surprised if you even survive today."

"I'd like there to be a next time," his smile was shy and he hid it behind his paper cup. That is, until she wiped the whipped cream from his nose. "Oh, sorry." His laugh was genuine and his smile honest. "Well if I survive today, and you do too, would you like to go out again sometime?"

Wiping her thumb clean on a napkin, Dove met his eyes boldly for the first time, her smile genuine and warm. "Yes, I would, thank you," she replied to his question. "And I promise, I won't let Jessie get you alone if we don't manage four dates successfully." Giggling, she lowered her eyes to her cup as she took a drink, coming up with a cream moustache herself.

He went from a shy smile to a face creasing grin in seconds flat when she accepted. "Is Jessie that bad?" He laughed and leaned forwards as his hands encircled that cup for it's warmth. Four dates, he thought that sounded like a very good idea. "You, uh.." He gestured towards his mouth with his fingertips when she came up with that mustache. "You're too cute, do you know that?"

"He's very protective of me," she began, blinking in confusion when he gestured towards his mouth. "What? Have I -" Her fingertips touched her lip, and she blushed furiously, laughing as she wiped away the cream. "I'm not cute, I'm ridiculous. Anyway, we're even now."

"Even Stevens," he agreed with a grinned nod. "I'm glad my motorcycle needed work." He sat back and took another sip of his cocoa.

"What?" Dove blinked again, her brow creasing a little in confusion for the second time in as many minutes. Her hands were wrapped around her cup ... well, as far around as they would go. She was small all over.

"Well, I'm not really into blind dates. They're kind of scary. But when Jessie said that he'd cut me a break when my carborator went south, I said I'd do it. He's been working on my bike for a while. And I'm really glad I let him talk me into this. I've had a very good time tonight, Dove."

"So have I," she agreed with a smiling nod. She wasn't sure how she felt about being set up, though. Jessie would have a headache when she got back, no doubt. "I promise, I'm not scary. I'm just ... complicated." She shrugged lightly, tilting her head.

"You're fun." he encouraged. "And cute, and funny. Nothing scary at all. Jessie said you were a great girl. But you hear that a lot." He leaned forward then and looked at her intently. "And I think he was right. You're pretty far out."

She eyed him with amused suspicion. "How much is he paying you to boost my confidence?" she accused him laughingly, not believing a word of it. "And I'm not half as 'far out' as I used to be, trust me." Grinning cheerfully, she leaned forward herself. "I like you, too. Even if this was a set up."

"He didn't pay me a dime. He said he'd work on my bike for free if I'd take you out." He kept his lean forward, mere inches from her nose. "And I think I like being set up. It's been pretty fun, so far."

"Do you turn into a pumpkin at midnight?" she asked suddenly, her grin about as childlike and adult as you could get in one expression. Part of her wanted to lean back, but the larger part of her was enjoying the interaction, not realising recognising herself for the flirt she was being.

"No, do you?" he chuckled softly and leaned back just enough to take another drink of the cocoa. "But, I do have an early shift tomorrow. So I do have to go to bed before midnight." It wasn't something he wanted to do, right at the moment. He was enjoying this very much.

"And you promised Jessie you'd have me back by ten," she reminded him with a smile as she sipped her own cocoa. "He'll get pissed if you don't. Angry Jessie is not fun." She nodded confidently, smirking cheerfully. "Course, I don't mind either way. I'm enjoying myself."

"That I did, and I'm a man of my word." He rose then from the table and tossed his cup into the nearby receptacle. "May I walk you home?"

"I would be honoured," she giggled, dropping her own cup into the bin with his as she stood up. Without prompting this time, she curled her hand around his elbow, sliding the other down until her fingers could lace with his. It was more comfortable, wasn't it?

When their hands met and his fingers naturally laced with hers, he absolutely beamed. "I've really had the best time." Quickly, they left the store and even though they rambled on and took their time, it seemed like seconds flat to him that they stood on the stoop of her apartment. "Come to the restaurant later?"

Dove considered that for a moment, before nodding shyly. "If I can," she agreed with another soft smile. "I really enjoyed tonight, Ben, thank you." Big blue eyes locked with his baby blues, grateful and warm.

"Thank you." he smiled and held her hand gently. Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek softly. "See you soon, Dove." Leaning back, he gazed into her eyes briefly before releasing her hand. Two steps later, and he was leaping down the steps, clearing them all. Another couple of hurried steps and he jumped, clicking his heels. Then he disappeared from sight.

((Adapted from Live Play.))

Dove grinned, jumping down to sit on the swing as she watched him, her hands coiled around the ropes. "This is one of my favourite places," she told him, resting her head against her hand. "I come here to think, sometimes."

"What do you think about?" He turned another cartwheel, then trotted behind her. Gently taking the ropes, he pulled back and let go, setting the swing into motion.

Her smile faded a little as he asked that question, feet lifting off the ground when he set to pushing her on the swing. "Home," she answered simply. "What I remember of it, anyway. I have big gaps that I don't remember. Jessie does, but he doesn't like to talk about it, and I don't force him much."

"Home with your parents, or home with Jessie?" He continued to push her gently, watching her hair flutter behind her as she moved through the cool, crisp air. "I mean, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Both." She leaned back, looking at him upside down. "Anyway, we came here so you could work off some of that energy, didn't we?" Dove waved a hand at him teasingly. "Go play."

"Go play?" He pushed her again on the swing and stepped back then. "Hmm..." Crossing one arm over his chest, his opposite hand moved to his chin, as if deep in thought. "Oh, I know!" He snapped his fingers and took off like a shot towards the parallel bars.

Dove slid off the swing and followed him, leaning her hip against the roundabout as she watched him tackle the parallel bars. "So why did you come to RhyDin?" she asked curiously. "There don't seem to be so many theatres here as there are back home."

He grasped one bar tightly and lifted himself up and over it. With a grunt, he was doing a handstand, his hands grasping both bars. "Just kind of ended up here. Don't know how or why. Thought I'd make the best of it." He tilted his body until it swung down, and he let go of the bars only to regrasp when he swung with his knees bent.

She watched him, fascinated. Shy she may be, but Dove was not above taking the perfect opportunity to revel in eye candy when he wasn't looking. "Have you thought about setting up a company?" she asked, then. "I'm sure loads of people would be interested, and it wouldn't have to cost much money."

"Thought about it, yes." He knew he had a captive audience and decided to show off a bit. "Not sure how to go about doing it, though." He swung back up, and flipped over the bars. Attempting to catch himself, he misjudged the distance and ended up landing flat on his back in the sand.

Dove squeaked in concern when he all but splatted onto the sand, starting forward in concern. "Oh my god, are you all right?" She leaned over him, not entirely sure what she was going to do if he wasn't all right.

He opened one eye and grinned, bashfully. "I meant to do that." His voice was rushed, but soft and he even laughed in spite of himself. Sitting up, he shook the sand from his hair. "I'm fine. But if you want to kiss a boo boo and make it all better, I got one, right here." And he pointed to his cheek.

Big blue eyes lit up with relieved laughter as he sat up, her hand reaching out to help him clear the sand out of his hair as she dropped onto her knees next to him. "Are you asking me for a kiss?" she asked delightedly, unsure if she'd understood him right.

He turned his head and nodded. "I mean, if you want to. You don't have to, but yeah. I think I did."

Her head tilted, spotting an opportunity to tease him a little. "You don't seem very sure," she said thoughtfully, leaning back. "What if you actually don't want a kiss, and I give you one, and you get all offended with me?"

"Hmm, or even worse," he canted his head and took on a face of seriousness. "What if you do give me one and decide that you don't like the way I feel and then are offended because I disappointed?"

"That's a good point," she agreed, in feigned concern. "Perhaps we should compromise. Close your eyes." Her eyes were twinkling with warm amusement.

"Close my eyes?" He glanced at her with a curious grin, then did as she requested. He closed his eyes and squished his face into a sour puss.

Trying not to giggle, Dove leaned her face close to his, and fluttered her eyelashes against his cheek. Not a kiss in the conventional sense, but a butterfly kiss, the way her mother used to do to her.

He jerked his face back at the unusual feeling of the fluttering eyelashes. "What're you doing?" He laughed, but kept his eyes closed. "That.. that feels weird, different."

She giggled softly. "It's a butterfly kiss," she told him through her grin. "Stay still, it's meant to tickle." In fact, the demonstration was over with, but it gave her an excuse to stay this close in relative safety, enjoying the unfamiliar feeling of someone else's warmth on her face.

"It does tickle," he sat there, stock still, with that smile on his face. "You sure it's not too racey that Jessie would complain?" He opened just one eye to peek over at her.

The giggles weren't something she could turn off easily, either. Not much genuinely sent her into hysterical laughter, but being called the evil queen of blonde waifs certainly had. Her hand patted against his leg unconsciously as she gasped for breath, trying to calm down before she fell on top of him.

"Oof!" he caught her as she fell atop of him. This caused even more ribald laughter as tears formed in his eyes. "Oh God, Oh God!"

"Ow, ow, ow!" Dove clutched at her stomach, aching from laughing so hard. Her own eyes were squeezed shut with mirth as she drew in deep breaths, trying hard to stop laughing.

Finally he sat up, and she was still half way in his lap. Not minding that one bit, he even curled his arm around her to keep her from toppling over. "See, air head." he grinned proudly.

"I'm not the air head!" Even her protest was giggly, deliberately misconstruing his meaning as he sat them both up. It felt ... actually rather nice with his arm around her, although she wasn't entirely sure whether or not he wanted her there.

"I'm the air head, Evil Queen of the Blond Waifs!" he chuckled softly.

Caught up in another round of giggles, Dove closed her eyes, shaking her head. "You're not an air head, you're ..." Her eyes opened, discovering herself to be quite a bit closer to him than she had originally thought. Her laughter faded to a smile. "You're really ... rather handsome."

His laughter died down with hers as he kept his head ducked down while he talked to her. "I am not. I'm cute, at best. Thought we went over this already?"

"You don't have a say in my opinion of what you are," she pointed out, tilting her head back with a soft smile. "And I say you're handsome, and intelligent, and fun to be with. So there." She stuck her tongue out at him, grinning.

"Oh no! Anarchy!" He laughed out loud and shook his head. "I've no say so in the matter. I can't argue and fight and try to sway you in any way?" He pouted playfully. "Hardly seems fair."

"Life isn't fair." She shrugged, bumping noses with him. It was unthinkingly affectionate, something the healed Dove was apt to do with anyone who took a little time with her. But the fact that she was prepared to let go of her nervousness even for short moments at a time with Ben suggested that she was as much aware of an unexpected connection as he was.

He laughed at the nose bump, happily accepting any affection she was willing to show. "Fine. Be set in your ways then. I will lodge a formal complaint later, to the proper authorities. I'll get you to change your mind, you'll see!"

Her eyes widened innocently, blinking in feigned sweetness at him. "You want me to change my mind about you being gorgeous?" She pretended to think about it for a moment, then grinned. "Okay, you're hideous. Better?" Before he could answer, she scrambled up to her feet and scurried away, giggling.

"Hideous?" He jumped up and took off after her. "I am not hideous, just cute! Not gorgeous, not pretty, cute!" It was elbows and all to the wind as he took off after her.

"No, you wanted me to change my mind, and I did!" she giggled back at him, dodging around the jungle-gym, inwardly pleased she went with jeans and not a skirt given the amount of tumbling and running she'd done this evening. "I thought you were gorgeous, I changed my mind! What's the problem?"

"Hideous is horrible!" He zigged, when she zagged in front of the jungle gym and met her half way around it. "Tell me I'm not horrible, Queen of the Blond Waifs!"

She squeaked when he appeared in front of her, backing up with a cheeky grin. "Make me," was her challenge. After all, Dove wasn't exactly the most wordly wise of people when she couldn't even recognise when she was flirting.

"Make you?" He looked confused and blinked rapidly. "Well, how do I do that?" He brought his hand to his chin and tapped his lip with his finger. "Hmm... how does one trick the Queen of the Blond Waifs into changing her mind, twice?"

Grinning like a naughty schoolgirl, Dove backed up another step, watching him carefully as he thought it over, waiting for her chance to make another giggling run for it.

"Hmm, well." he finally looked up at her. "I give up. How does one make the Queen of the Blond Waifs change her mind?" He tapped his toe and looked at her expectantly.

"Teach her how to kiss without disappointing you?" she suggested, and blushed as soon as the words left her mouth, eyes widening in shock at her own boldness. Her hand whipped up to cover her mouth in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, it just sort of came out, I didn't mean ... well, I did, but ... oh god ..."

His eyes widened, startled by her request, but pleasantly so. "Well I think I'm getting off easy, here. I mean., so far you've not disappointed." He smiled and stepped towards her. "But I teach better by example."

She didn't retreat, one hand curling around a bar of the jungle gym as he stepped closer. The other hand didn't come down from her mouth, absolutely certain that if it did, she would say something stupid and he'd run a mile.

Once the door was shut, Dove didn't have to keep the tears at bay any more. She really liked Ben, and she'd really screwed up tonight. So she felt she was entitled to a cry. She slipped through the living room with a muffled greeting to Jessie, and threw herself on her bed, burying her face in the pillow and giving in to the sobs.

Jessie had been sitting on the couch when she came through the door. He put down the coupling he'd been tinkering with and smiled when she came into the door. "Hey.." he frowned and got up, following her into the bedroom. "Dove, what's wrong?" He sat on the edge of the bed and began rubbing her back. He'd not seen her cry in some time and it worried him.

Her answer was muffled into the pillow, but she was just about coherent. "I'm such an idiot! It was all really good and then I freaked out and now he thinks I'm insane!"

"Dovey.." he sighed and continued rubbing her back in a way that he'd learned would calm her down. "Tell me what happened."

Sniffling, she turned her head towards him, lifting a hand to rub her nose. "It's stupid," she warned him raggedly, sniffing. "We were kissing, and it felt really good, Jessie, and then ... I could feel him, and it frightened me. I don't even know why, it's not like I remember! And I ... I asked him if he was going to rape me, and he got angry, and, oh, I just made a huge mess of everything! What's the point of not remembering the bad stuff if it still gets in the way?"

"He kissed you? On the mouth?" Jessie's brows furrowed darkly. "And what do you mean, feel him?" Jessie ran his hand through his hair, maybe he had misread Ben. He seemed like a nice guy, but sometimes still waters ran deep. "He got mad when you asked that? What did he say?" By then, Jessie was up, on his feet, pacing.

"I asked him to." Dove sat up, hugging her pillow to her chest as she sniffled. "I asked him to kiss me, and yes, he did kiss me on the mouth, but I kissed him too! And ... he reacted. In a getting harder, kind of way. And I freaked! I'm such an idiot!" She pressed her face into the pillow and growled at her own stupidity.

"Well, at least he's straight." he couldn't help it and a smile curled his lips. "You're not stupid, Dove. Don't you ever say that again. And it's natural to be scared and nervous around that kind of stuff. You're only protecting yourself. Was he still mad at you after you freaked out?

"No." How was that for a belligerent reply? "He said he was angry with himself, and not with me, and he wants to see me again." She lifted puffy eyes to Jessie unhappily. "What if there's something really badly wrong with me? What if I never manage to even get a kiss right? He should be with someone normal."

He sat back down on the edge of the bed with a soft sigh. "Dovey, he said he wants to see you again. That's a good sign. So you freaked out a little bit. Next time, it won't be so scary. It's natural for a guy to get a little stiff when he's kissing a girl he really likes."

"But it was so strange," she said worriedly. "It was fine, it was ... wonderful, actually, until ... I was just so unsettled. I don't remember ever feeling a man react like that, but it still frightened me. And not in a shy, I don't what this is way. In a please don't let this happen again way."

"I was hoping this wouldn't happen." he ran his hand through his hair and sighed, once again. "I was hoping that you'd have been healed enough that there wouldn't even be a trace of your fear left. But it's good that you do fear." He shook his head, confusing even himself. He turned more towards her then, and reached out to hug her. "I don't think he's going to do what those other men did, Dovey. Because he would have already done it if he were."

She leaned into her, hugging her dearest friend as tightly as she dared. "I have to tell him," she murmured unhappily. "It's not fair to keep it a secret if he likes me enough to ignore my stupid panic attack."

"That's up to you." He whispered back, gently rubbing her back as he cradled her head to his shoulder. "Or I could, if you think that you're not strong enough yet, to talk about it."

"Jelly-bean, I have to start looking after myself," she said gently, lifting her head to smile at him. "I can do it. Sooner the better, right? Before I really fall for him." She didn't need to vocalise the upsetting worry that telling Ben the truth would send him running for the hills.

He leaned back and smiled gently. "Alright, Dovey. Just, don't blurt things out, ok? Tell him slowly, a little bit at a time so he can ingest it and think about it." He hugged her again, tightly. "I love you, Dove. Is it really working out well with Ben, other than the freak out?"

She curled into Jessie's hug, squeezing him just as tightly as she relaxed, tears gone in the face of calm, understanding advice. "We're just dating, Jess, it's not like we're about to elope," she snorted softly, "but ... yeah, I think it could work out. I really like him, and I think he likes me."

"I'm glad, Dovey. There's nothing like being in love. I can't wait for you to experience it. It's so amazing." He sighed softly and closed his eyes, thinking of Jacob.

Her head tilted back to look up at him, smiling a little at the expression on his face, and she hugged him again, kissing his cheek affectionately. "Thank you, Jessie," she murmured gratefully. "I love you back."

"Love you, Dovey. You're my best friend, my little sister. And if you ever, ever need anything, I'm always here." He sighed softly, with a smile on his face.

"I know. I'm sorry I freaked you out, I didn't mean to." She bumped noses with him, one hand groping behind her for Spud the stuffed bunny. She held the little toy in front of her face and put on the single most ridiculous voice she could possibly think of. "Don't be sad, Jelly-bean. Dove's just a diva, she can deal with a boy."

"You didn't freak me out." he denied it and smiled when suddenly there was a Spud in his face. "How can I be sad when I've got my best friend and her silly little bunny right here where I can do this?" He tackled her to the bed and started tickling her sides.

Dove let out a shriek of laughter, falling back on the bed and wriggling as much as she was worth, trying not to beg him to stop. For lack of any better weapon, she beat him repeatedly with Spud, which had about the same effect as attacking someone with a wet tissue.

But he did back off and sat back with a grin. "It's going to be alright, Dovey. Just remember, because he gets a stiffy, doesn't mean he's going to use it, ok?"

Breathless and giggling, she stayed where she was, looking up at her adopted brother with a grin of her own. "Okay," she nodded, smirking wickedly. "Can I send him your way if he decides he really, really has to use it?"

"By all means." he nods with a grin. "if you're not ready for that, and he persists, I'll make double damned sure that he won't be ready to use it again for a long while. And his bike will be unridable. It'll be in little pieces."

"If you ever find it," she agreed. "I kind of thinking driving it into the Nexus pools on Twilight Island might make it just a little bit difficult to find." She sat up with a smile, squeezing his hand. "Don't worry about me so much, okay? I'll be fine."

Jessie looked at her with a bit of amused surprise. "Well, well, I suppose you can look out for yourself." He chuckled and pulled her into a hug, kissing her cheek. "But you'll always be my Dovey and I'll always be your Jelly Bean and we'll look out for each other."

Dove squeezed him warmly. "Promise," she agreed, smiling. It was one thing that would never change. No matter who came into their lives, or who walked out on them, they would always be there for each other.

((Adapted from Live Play between Jessie, Dove, and Ben))

"Should?" He stepped back and put his hands into his pockets. "Alright, if you insist." Chuckling softly, he walked back to the couch and resumed his comfortable perch.

Closing her eyes for a moment as he walked back to the couch, Dove hurried to mop up the water and finish making the tea. "Do you have milk and sugar?" she asked, bringing the mugs over and setting them on a clear space on the coffee table before heading back for said items.

"I like lemon and honey, do you have any?" He continued to watch her, smiling all the while. "If you don't feel like playing, we could do something else. What do you like to do?"

"I think I've got some," she said, rummaging in a cupboard and coming up with honey, at least. "I don't mind playing for you. To be honest, I don't really do much else. I eat, I sleep, I play. I chat to Jessie. I have a very dull life." Locating the lemon, she moved back to slide onto the couch beside him, handing over the honey and lemon and pouring a little milk into her cup.

"Dull's not a bad thing, Dove." He shifted a bit when she sat down, and leaned forwards to place a dollop of honey and the slice of lemon into the tea. The room went silent, save for the tinking sounds of spoons stirring the tea.

Sipping her tea, she curled her legs up under herself on the couch. "It is when you're trying to get to know someone and you have nothing interesting to say," she shrugged regretfully, glancing over at him.

"Why do you think I ask so many questions?" He continued to stir the tea. "I'm really not all that interesting, either. I work, ride my bikes, sleep and eat. That's about it." He shrugged then.

"You have bikes?" she asked curiously. "See, I didn't know that. Are they like push-bikes, or the vroom-vroom kind?" Yes, Dove was still at times very childlike. Besides, she liked making him smile, and she wanted to be able to do it easily.

He laughed softly. "Vroom vroom style. And I've got three. The Ducati is in the shop, the Harley I use when I'm cruising around, and for travelling I whip out the Goldwing."

"I don't think I've ever even seen a motorcycle," she mused thoughtfully, holding her cup in front of her lips. "What is it like, riding them? Is it exciting?"

"There's nothing like it." He smiled, with a bob to his head. "Do you want to try it out? We can take the Goldwing out and have a picnic or something, maybe?"

Her face lit up in a sweet smile. "Really? You wouldn't be worried about having a coward like me on the back of your baby?" She giggled; she'd never understood why men liked to call their vehicles their 'baby', but it never failed to amuse her.

"You don't strike me as a coward, and I'd love to have you on the back of my bike." He stirred his tea and glanced from the steaming cup, back to her. "Where would you like to go?"

"I don't know, I've never been outside the city," she confessed, shifting a little closer. If he'd been Jessie, she would have been right up close to him; as it was, she wanted to be, but didn't quite know how he would take that. She was an affectionate girl, but after her display the night before she wasn't even sure he still liked her that way. "Isn't there an old amphitheatre somewhere near the south gates?"

"There is." He nodded and made the move, shifting to be more comfortable, his leg brushed against hers. "I think it's haunted, sounds like a good time."

She didn't shift away, settling even further so her leg rested against his. "Ghosts?" There was that shy delight again. "Are you serious? Do you have a tent? We could camp out and tell ghost stories and scare each other silly!"

"Ghosts, and yes, I'm serious," glancing away, he frowned slightly. "Camping out together, alone, is a phase three, and four thing. Do we know each other well enough to sleep together, even if it's innocent?"

"Oh." Dove's smile faded uncertainly, her gaze dropping to her mug. She'd put her foot in her mouth, again. "Sorry, I ... I'm not very good at this, am I? Forget I said anything." And she shifted again, dropping her feet to the floor and laying her mug on the table.

Her eyes fell on her fiddle, and she lifted it lovingly. He had said he wanted to hear her play, hadn't he? She settled the instrument onto her shoulder, and drew the bow across the strings, settling to a tune he should know ... If I Were A Rich Man, from Fiddler.

He did recognize the tune and hummed a bit before chiming in. His voice wasn't warmed up, but he managed. "I see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife ..." Deep breath, a grin on his face. "If I were a wealthy man!"

She smiled, adjusting where she was in the music to match to his lyrics. Her fingers flew easily over the fretboard as she watched him, enjoying the timbre of his voice, though she could tell he was not warmed up. Right through to the end, though, and even then, she tucked the fiddle onto her lap and applauded him. "You have a beautiful voice!"

He sat back and applauded her, his voice ringing out in a loud laugh. "I love how you play!" Bringing his hands forward, he curled his fingers around her hands. "You are really very talented."

"I love to play," she smiled, letting his fingers curl around hers as he reached over. "There's nothing so wonderful as just letting everything go and feeling what the music's telling you."

She nodded, agreeing with him to a certain extent, although what she was mainly doing was studying his face as surreptitiously as she thought she could get away with. He was incredibly handsome when he spoke about anything that enflamed his passions. "Like?" she prompted with a smile, curious to know the answer to her question.

"Like Sweeney Todd." His chest puffed a bit, his shoulders squared and he bore a huge smile on his face. "I'd love to play any role in that show. Have you ever seen it?"

"The Demon Barber of Fleet Street?" Her smile widened; she could almost imagine him playing the part.

"That's the one!" His eyes lit up with excitement that she'd heard of it and had seen it. "It's gory and beautiful and I've learned all of the male parts. I think that would be my dream job, to play in that. And you could be Joanna. With the long hair and sad eyes."

Dove's mouth dropped open, enjoying his enthusiasm but vehement about denying any part in his dream. "I can't sing," she assured him. "Even Jessie says it sounds like someone's killing a cat when I try. But I could be in the orchestra," she offered instead, not wanting to kill his buzz.

"The orchestra then." he nodded with a grin. "No, better yet!" The enthusiasm pumped through him and he gripped her hand tightly. "You could play Benjamin's wife! She doesn't have many parts and is so essential to the story! Only later in the play does she sing, but it's more of a wailing, sad kind of thing. I know you could do it!"

"Ben!" Giggling once again, Dove tugged on his hand, shaking her head sweetly. "Really, honestly, I can't sing. I can't even hum in tune! You'd have to do all the singing for me," she laughed, stumbling for a moment before finding her feet again.

"My falsetto's not that good." He chuckled and helped her to gain her footing, once again. "Whoa there Peanut. Careful."

Blushingly embarrassed by her trip, especially since he'd noticed and helped, Dove chuckled softly. "I told you I'm clumsy," she reminded him with a smile. "Peanut?"

"It's alright. And yes, Peanut," turning a corner, he lead her up towards the front of a tall building. "It just kind of popped out, but now that it's been said, I think it fits you. You're a tiny thing, with a tough exterior. But once the shell's cracked I think the little nuts inside are going to be pretty sweet."

"No, I like it," she hurried to inform him, wrapping her free hand around his elbow. "Peanut ... no one's ever had a pet name for me before. Except my sister, she used to call me Beansprout." Her eyes lifted to the building they were approaching. "Is this where you live?"

"Beansprout, that's cute." He pulled his keys from his pocket and opened up the door to the building. It was a small, non-descript door that lead into the garage area. "No, I live next door. But they let me keep my bikes here." He gestured to a small house with a jerk of his head. "I pay a little bit a month and they keep the beauties under surveillance."

She looked over at the little house, just about managing to bite down the intense curiosity she felt about wanting to see inside. Her hands slipped into her pockets as she waited patiently for the door to be opened. "You really love your bikes, don't you?" she asked with a smile, charmed by the way he spoke about something he so obviously loved.

"I do. They're one of the few things my parents gave to me that I kept. There's such a sense of freedom when you're riding," he sighed contently and lead her through the dimly lit garage. "You'll love it. Just sitting back, relaxing, listening to music and the feel of the wind against you. it's amazing." He got to the bike and let go of her long enough to get onto it and start it up. It wasn't a loud beast of a bike, at all. It had a quiet rumble to it, but not deafening. Unlatching the helmets, he held one out to her. "Put it on, then hop on."

The helmet was, admittedly, huge on her small head, and it took her a couple of goes to get it on without covering her face with her own hair. "How do I look?" she grinned as she buckled it under her chin.

With a practiced ease, he already had his on and watched her as she tried. Smiling, amused. He brought his hand up to gently tuck an errant lock of hair up and under the helmet. "Gorgeous, as always." His thumb caressed her cheek and he gazed into her eyes. "Honor me by riding on my bike."

Her smile was pretty much like the dawn rising when he touched her cheek, soaking in the little sign of affection with delight. She didn't even argue with his compliment, turning her attention to getting on the bike without falling over, or worse, knocking it over in her attempts. But she did manage it, just, her toes just barely touching the ground either side.

He watched her climb on and put his hands back onto her thighs. "Pick your feet up and put them on the foot rests." He hadn't turned his head, but she should be able to hear him as clear as day through the comm in the helmet.

Feet up as instructed and resting against the foot rests, Dove found that this new position put her a little off balance, instinctively wrapping her arms around him to keep from keeling over and off the bike. "Sorry," she apologised. "I keep thinking I'm going to fall off."

He smiled when her arms went around her waist. Gunning the engine, he picked his own feet up and headed out of the garage area. Click of a button and the garage door was opening up for them. "It's alright. There's a backrest and arm rests, too. In case your back gets tired from leaning forward." Though he hoped she wouldn't lean back. He liked the feel of her arms around him.

Her fingers curled to clench into his sweater as he kissed her, rising onto her toes to press even closer as she let out a soft little whimper of pleasure. Her lashes brushed her cheeks as she succumbed to the feeling, knowing this time what to expect and unafraid if it should happen again.

With the position that they were in, little Woody would not be felt this time. He had made sure to keep a little distance between them. When he finally pulled his head back, slowly, his eyes opened and he smiled shyly. "Wow."

When he drew back, her eyes stayed closed, lips just a little parted, already replaying the kiss in wonder behind her eyelids. It was only when he spoke that she blinked her eyes open, returing his smile with as much shy awe. "Wow's a good word," she murmured softly, nipping at her lip lightly. "Does it always feel like that?"

"God, I hope so." he laughed, then leaned forward to press his luck with another kiss.

She met him halfway, her hand groping to set the helmet down on his bike before she slid her hands up to curl against his cheek and neck. His lips were softer than she had expected, but she didn't linger on that thought, savouring the richly unique scent of him filling her nostrils as she leaned into him.

He moved his hands down to her waist, holding lightly. Instinctively, his lips parted just enough for his tongue to brush along her bottom lip. It was a soft, subtle thing that lasted all of a mere milisecond.

Soft and subtle, but enough to draw a tiny, startled gasp from Dove, parting her own lips in answer though she didn't know what to do from there. One hand slid into his hair as the other pressed against his chest, simply enjoying the closeness of what was, in effect, a very chaste kiss.

He took the parting of her lips as an open invitation and moved his mouth so that his lips suckled at hers, gently pulling that lower lip into a pout. As he pulled his head back, he smiled as he watched her lip spring back into place.

Again, her eyes remained closed just a moment or two longer than was truly necessary, opening slowly to look up at him as a slow, pleased smile curved her lips. She didn't have any words to describe what had just happened. Just a slow smile, and sparkling eyes, and hopefully he would know what she wasn't saying.

His smile grew as he understood that look, very well. His hands moved to the small of her back to pull her closer. His lips met with hers once again in a chaste kiss.

It was a perfect end to their tentative second kiss - yes, Dove was grouping all three kisses into one, perfect kiss in her mind. Up onto her toes to return that last touch of lips before dropping down onto her heels again, and grinning up at him. "Do ghosts always make you this friendly?" she asked sweetly.

When she dropped back to her heels, his hands moved to her waist. He was glad that she'd not freaked out when little Woody woke up during the second act of that kiss. He smiled happily and laughed. "I am Casper, the friendly ghost. So being around my kind always makes me friendlier." He chuckled softly.

She laughed softly, brave enough for a moment to let her arms creep around his waist and squeeze, hugging him briefly. Then she drew back with another giggle. "Bet I can get down to the stage first!"

Enjoying holding her, he was loathe to let go. But, in his current state, it was probably for the best. "I bet you can't." He finally did let go and took a step towards the outter rim of seats. "On your mark, get set, go!" And he took off.

Damn right she couldn't beat him, not with her short little legs against his beanstalks. But she ran as fast as she could, even with her giggling, jumping down onto each level just on the cusp of falling over but never quite managing it.

He purposely slowed down, taking each step instead of taking three or four at a time. Soon, she caught up and past him easily. "Hey, how'd you do that?" He called out for her, his words and her giggles echoing around the amphitheater.

"I cheated!" she laughed back at him, glancing over her shoulder. Bad move, though - true to form, as soon as she took her eyes off the floor, it leapt up and bit her on the ass. Literally, as she tumbled over and landed heavily on said ass, dissolving into hysterical giggles at her own clumsiness.

He watched her fall and called out her name. By her side in seconds flat, he knelt down beside her. "Hey, are you alright?" His hands smoothed out her hair, again. He laughed with her, but checked her over for any cuts or scrapes. "That was actually quite good. I can't fall that good, even when I'm trying."

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she gasped for breath between giggles. "You just have to let it happen. I won't even have a bruise, I betcha." Grinning, she rose up onto her knees, curling her hands at his cheeks, and kissed him quickly. "You're very sweet to worry, but you'll get used to it. I fall over all the time."

He grinned into that kiss and curled an arm around her neck to keep her close. It was a very pleasant surprise that she initiated a kiss. "Should I buy you knee and elbow pads? A helmet?" Sinking back to sit upon his heels, he turned his head and put his hands to his mouth. "Hello?" It echoed, across the amphitheater.

"Oh, don't worry, I bounce," she assured him with a grin, looking up and around the amphitheatre with something akin to reverence as he called out. "You can see why people think this place is haunted, can't you? It's incredible, I'd love to perform here."

His eyes widened at the echoes and he turned his wide eyed grin back onto her. "Bouncy, bouncy. Like Tigger!" He couldn't help but laugh. "This place is amazing and it does sound like voices are whispering, can you hear them?" He glanced around and nodded. "Performing here would be so awesome."

"I like you, a lot, too." he smiled genuinely then pulled her into a full hug, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I've never met anybody like you before, Peanut."

"That's because there ain't no one in the world quite like lil' ol' me!" she laughed, squeezing her arms around him warmly for a moment before leaning back. "No one quite like you, either. That's a good thing."

He hugged her tightly before leaning back and keeping his arms loosely around her. "Very good thing. I don't think the world could handle another me. It'd cause a rip in the space time continuum." He chuckled and gazed into her eyes for a long moment.

She grinned, blinking up at him. "You'd make yourself a ghost?" she gasped, feigning shock as she laughed softly. A laugh that faded as she looked up at him, blue eyes locked to blue for as long as the moment lasted.

"No, I wouldn't." His voice, soft and a bit sensuous as her eyes trapped him and reeled him in like a fish. "I couldn't do this, as a ghost." His eyes slid shut as his mouth found hers again.

There wasn't any hesitation in her answering kiss, the way her hand curled up to touch gently against his neck and into his hair as she closed her eyes with a quiet squeak of pleasure. Dove hadn't ever been kissed before Ben had kissed her the night before, and yet now she welcomed every touch of his lips as though she knew what was coming.

He pulled from the kiss and lifted his chin to rest atop of her head. A soft sigh of contentment left his chest as he held her and gazed out at the amphitheater. "I've really had the best time, Peanut."

"Mmm, me too," she smiled, cuddling into his chest as though she'd been doing it for years. "I've had fun, and ... I haven't had fun with someone in a really long time. Thank you."

"Was my pleasure. But now, I'm getting hungry. How about a trip into town so we can grab a bite to eat?" He leaned his head back to look into her eyes, guaging her response.

"Can I drive?" she teased, eyes lighting up with deep amusement. The thought of Dove driving the bike was a truly terrifying one.

"Mm, maybe we'll get you a smaller bike to learn on first." He chuckled softly and pressed another kiss to her lips before untangling himself and standing up. "Come on then." He offered his hand with a smile.

There would be no racing back up to the top of the amphitheatre, Dove was just too small to manage the deep steps without Ben's help. Which, of course, sent her off into quietly embarrassed giggles again. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think it'd be like climbing Everest," she laughed, pulling on his hand to get herself up to the next level.

"It's quite alright, m'dear." He said in a mock smug Bostonian accent. To him, the Aristrocracy of the United States came from Boston. "You make a man feel useful, helping a lovely young lady such as yourself." He double bounced-bowed his head.

Grinning, Dove gripped his hands and pulled herself up to the top of the amphitheatre, turning to look down as she caught her breath. "Wouldn't it be great to actually perform there someday?" she mused cheerfully, lacing her fingers between Ben's with absent-minded affection.

He held her hand and stood by her side, looking down at the stage. "We'll have to do that, someday. We'll form an orchestra and you'll play, I'll sing and they'll come from all over." He turned his head and smiled at her.

She looked up at him with a wide smile. "So we don't know each other well enough to camp out together, but making long term plans is fine, huh?" she giggled teasingly.

"Professional, long term plans. And it's nice to dream." He smiled again and pulled her close. Letting go of her hand, he curled his arm around her neck and shoulders. "So, ask me any random question. What do you want to know?"

She leaned against him, curling her arm around his back as she looked up at him and asked the first question that came into her mind. "Do you like wearing dresses?" No, Dove's mind on a random setting was probably not a safe place to be.

His look down at her was amused shock. "Well, no, not really. But kilts are nice. I played Wendy once, in a children's production of Peter Pan." He offered the last bit and grinned. "Before my voice changed, of course."

Grinning at the look on his face, Dove nestled her cheek against his shoulder, looking at the view. "Okay, your turn," she invited him. "What do you want to know about me?"

Loaded question and there was a lot he wanted to know. But now was not the time, nor the place for soul searching questions. He smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Do you like to wear ties?"

Her nose scrunched up as her lips curved in answer to his smile. "I don't really know," she answered honestly. "I have to wear one for work, so I'll let you know in a few weeks. Deal?"

"Deal. So how about that ride into town. Where would you like to go to eat?" He uncurled his arm and reached for her helmet. "Back to that little diner or someplace else?"

"Well, in phase three, we refer to each other as a boyfriend or girlfriend. We get closer, see each other every day. Do the things that couples do. Which, we kind of do already." He remained where he was, content to just let her hold onto his back.

"You want me to be your girlfriend?" She was actually incredibly touched by that, attempting to look at him, but finding the helmet in the way. Reclaiming her hands, she pulled the helmet off, leaning around to look him in the eye. "I ... I'd like that." Her lips curved in a wide smile. "I really would."

"I do." He laughed when suddenly she was curled around him. His own helmet came off and he hung it on the handlebars. His arms went around her and he pulled her around to the front. "Then onto phase three it is." He smiled as he gazed into her eyes.

She 'eep'ed a bit when he pulled her around into his lap, her feet kicking to be free of the foot rests and the seat. Biting her lip with a shy smile, Dove wasn't aware that she was practically lit up like a Christmas tree with excitement about being Ben's girlfriend. Just smiling up at him warmly, smoothing her fingers down his cheek.

His hand moved to the back of her hair, long silky blond hair smoothing between his fingers. He stole a quick kiss and laughed softly. "Does it feel right to you, Peanut?"

Her lips parted in a wide smile. "Yes, it feels right," she assured him, kissing his chin. "But it does kind of mean you have to pass the Jessie test."

"The Jessie test?" He simply held her there, hands lightly travel to her hips to keep her from sliding off of the bike. "I thought I passed that when he asked me to take you out."

She grinned, cuddling against him. "Maybe you're right," she admitted, "but that doesn't mean he still doesn't have hundreds of questions to ask you. And a few threats. He is my brother, after all."

Laughing softly, he rested his head atop of her chin. "Well bring it on. I'll answer any question he has and quake in my boots at any threats he may throw my way."

Giggling softly, Dove kissed his neck affectionately. "So ... what does phase three have to do with me going home in a few hours?" she asked, tilting her head back curiously. She really didn't have much of a clue about dating, or what was involved in being a girlfriend.

"Well." he tilted his head a bit when she kissed his neck. "That's up to you. Sometimes girlfriends stay the night with their boyfriends. But before that happens, we need to talk, Dove." He used her real name, and that meant that the topic was going to be serious.

She leaned back, looking up at him with her own eyes completely serious. "I know," she assured him. "There's things you need to know about me. And I won't hold you to anything until you know everything and you can make up your mind from there." She nodded firmly.

"Fair enough. Let's get something to eat, ok? When you're ready, you can talk about it. I just don't want to do anything that's going to scare or hurt you." He placed a kiss to her cheek, then let go of her with his hands, a silent gesture telling her it was time to get off of the bike.

She nodded, smiling gently as she slid off the bike. Before he could stand up, she turned and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing his cheek warmly. "You won't hurt me," she insisted. "I just need privacy to tell you everything, that's all."

He leaned into the hug, one arm going around her. "We'll go back to your place once we're done eating, ok?" He knew that her apartment would probably be the most comfortable and easiest place for her to open up. "No pressure, though. Only when you're ready."

She nodded, letting go to stand back and let him stand up, swinging her arms back and forth as she looked around. "Where are we going now then?" was her next question, smiling sweetly for him. Whenever she had the chance, she would tell him what he needed to know. It wouldn't be hard for her; she didn't recall details, only what Jessie had told her, and she didn't feel what had been done. But it would be hard for him to hear.

He leaned the bike and put his foot up to put the kickstand down, then rested the bike onto it before he climbed off. "Well, the little bistro right there, the sandwiches are to die for." He grinned and took her hand. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that he wasn't going to like what she had to say. And he wondered just how long this phase three would last.

Her hand slipped trustingly into his, squeezing gently as she looked over at the bistro. "After you, then, Mister Infallible," she teased, tugging him towards the building.

"Infallible?" He laughed and lead the way into the cute little shop, with it's wrought iron chairs and tables that were seemingly scattered randomly about. He offered her a chair. "I'm hardly infallible."

"You've been right about everything so far," she pointed out, thumping into the seat with a smile. Looking around, her eyes lit up, charmed by the little shop. "How do you know so much about stuff, anyway?"

He thumped into the chair across from her and leaned on the table, elbows grasped in his palms. "Travelled a lot with my parents. Watched how things worked. Listened to a lot of gossip." He canted his head slightly. "You'd be amazed at what a troupe of chorus girls chatter about when they're putting on make up."

Leaning her elbows onto the table, she clasped her hands and rested her chin on them, leaning towards him. "I can imagine some of it," she giggled. "I remember what all the so called popular girls used to talk about at school. It was pretty graphic, some of it, too."

He laughed and nodded his head. "And they think guys are bad in the locker rooms. They have nothing on chorus girls."

Dove took one look at him trying so hard to suck in his milkshake, and choked on her sandwich, trying not to laugh too much. She put down the food, covering her mouth with a napkin as she coughed, her eyes watering with mirth. "You are daft!"

He finally got just a taste of the milkshake before her face turned red and she started to choke and laugh. He put down the glass and folded his arms across his chest. "If I'm daft, what's that make you? You get seen often with daft fellows?" Mock indignation.

Gasping for breath, she coughed one last time, clearing her throat finally. "Makes me a Good Samaritan," she grinned over at him, "taking pity on dafties like you, letting them take me out and treat me to delicious food and fun outings." She placed her finger over the top of her straw, and lifted it out, lifting her finger to let the thick beverage slide out the bottom and into her mouth.

He grinned, liking her answer. "Well that's very kind of you." He chuckled and then watched her with the straw. He had to adjust on the hard chair. It got a little warm, a little uncomfortable down stairs. "I. uh, that's cheating, you know."

"What is?" Dove's big eyes were a definite advantage when it came to angelic expressions of innocence. She knew she was cheating with the way she handled her straw, but where did it say you had to suck through it?

"Picking up the straw like that. How can you get the full effect of a thick, frosty shake if you don't suck on it?"

"You want me to suck?" She blinked sweetly over at him, laying down what was left of her sandwich and drawing her shake towards her. Her lips closed around the straw and she sucked, eyes on his, just to prove she could do it.

"Well, yeah. Give me something to dream about." It came out faster than he could stop it and he clamped his hand over his mouth, even as he watched her. A painful groan escaped through his fingers.

This time, when she choked, the shake went up her nose, and her eyes watered. Dove disappeared into a fresh napkin for a few moments while she cleaned herself up, lifting her head to blink incredulously over at him. "Excuse me?"

"Oh!" he reached out with a napkin, then curled his hand back, seeing that she had it taken care of. "I, uh, I'm sorry. That was just terrible. I shouldn't have said it." He shook his head and lowered it. His sandwich was brought up and he took a huge bite, so that he couldn't talk for several long minutes.

She stared at him for a moment, nibbling on her own sandwich while she waited for him to be able to speak again. "I actually don't understand why you want to dream about me sucking on a straw," she said thoughtfully. "Surely you'd prefer dreaming about me sucking on your ..." See? She wasn't quite as innocent as she appeared.

It was his turn to choke. He brought his hand to his throat as his eyes went wide with disbelief. His eyes watered and he finally cleared his throat enough that he was able to speak. But what came out was unintelligble groans and grunts.

"Ben, are you all right?" Dove's expression was stricken with guilt. She'd never seen anyone react that way to an innocent comment. "Ben? What did I say?"

He pounded his chest and finally swallowed down the offending bite. "Nothing that I was expecting." he laughed, and lifted his milkshake, drinking driectly from the glass. He had his own milk mustache now, but didn't care. It felt good on his throat.

Reassured by his laughter, Dove relaxed a little, returning to her sandwich as she finished it off, licking her fingers to catch every last vestige of deliciousness. Wiping her hands, she reached for her milkshake, and paused. "Will you be all right if I use the straw?"

He had wiped his mouth and leaned back, afraid that if he dare try to take a bite or drink that he'd end up choking again. "You're fine." He grinned and shook his head.

She smiled back at him and took the straw between her lips again, this time crossing her eyes as she sucked. Maybe if she made it funny, he wouldn't need to fidget.

He laughed at her little display. Feeling like it was safe to take another bite of his sandwich, he marvelled at the fact that she was so tiny, yet she inhaled her sandwich so quickly. That brought a thought to the forefront and he put his sandwich back down as he chewed thoughtfully. "Are you wanting to go home already?"

She blinked, releasing the straw with a slurping sound. "Not if you don't want to," she shrugged lightly, smiling a little. "Was there something else you wanted to show me?"

"Lots of things to show you, so little time." He chuckled and finally finished off his own sandwich. Leaning back with a satisfied grin on his face, his hands laced behind his head. "You just ate that so quick. You must have been starving."

She glanced down at her plate, giggling a little. "I guess I must have been," she conceded. "I eat everything quickly, though. Is that weird?"

"No, not weird. Just high metabolism." He smiled and waved the waiter over. "Check, please?" He then turned back to Dove. "D'ya think Jessie's home? May as well get the interrogation over with. And if not, then maybe we can talk about things."

Glancing at her wrist, even though there was no watch on it, Dove grinned. "Well, by my wrist, he should be home," she shrugged lightly. "He might have gone to Jacob's, though." She dug in her pocket for her wallet, leaning her elbows on the table once again. "It was a lovely meal, thank you, Ben."

She lifted her eyes to his, her expression calm and serious. "I used to need a lot of looking after," she told him truthfully. "I don't really remember much of it, but Jessie looked after me all through it. He's frightened I'll relapse."

He glanced around, nodding. Anything but looking into her eyes and giving away his own uncertainty about it all. Lowering himself onto the couch, he sat on the edge and folded his hands. "Well, I guess he trusts you now. He's not here."

Rubbing her hands nervously on her legs, she sat down beside him. "Because he knows what I need to tell you," she said softly. Her hands reached over to cover his gently. "He lived through most of it with me. And I do need to tell you, Ben, because it's not fair otherwise."

"Sounds pretty serious." He frowned slightly and didn't move to comfort her or hold her hand. "I'm ready, when you are."

She drew her hands away, looking down at her knees. "Okay, well ... first thing you need to know is, I don't remember any of what I'm about to tell you," she said quietly, her voice fervent. It was important that he understood this, or the rest of the story would totally freak him out. "Someone - I don't know who - someone fixed my head, so that when I try to remember what's happened, I can't. I just hear this beautiful music."

"Okay." he spoke quietly, steeling himself for what was to come. He had heard that the mind blocks away what it can't handle and it must be pretty damn bad if she can't remember it. "Go on."

Dove paused, trying to work out where best to begin. "Well ... I guess I should start with my family," she murmured quietly. "I was sixteen when they died - my parents and my sister. I don't remember how, I don't even feel the grief. I'm sad they're not here, but not so much I can't cope." She was getting off track already. "Anyway, my dad's will said something about me not inheriting until I hit eighteen, so his brother came to look after me."

His mouth formed a grim line and he nodded quietly. His hand reached out and gently lay upon her own. Grief, he could understand. And she'd already told him that her parents and sister were passed away. So far, it was pretty easy to ingest. He kept quiet, the pat to her hand and the nod of his head, encouraging her to proceed.

She took a deep breath. "See, my memory gets a bit hazy here, and Jessie wasn't there, so I don't quite know what happened," she told him, staring fixedly at his hand over hers. "I know I was scared of my uncle, and really lonely. And one day, a couple of months before I turned eighteen, I was sent away with a man I didn't know. I honestly don't remember anything much for years after that." She looked up at him. "Jessie told me where we met and what I don't remember. Are you okay?"

Though the details were hazy, at best, he got the gist of it. Her uncle was neglectful and sent her away before she could inherit the money. This angered him and his lips turned into an angry white line. "I'm fine. Go ahead."

"I was taken to an auction house," she said slowly. This was the part she was frightened he would not react well to. "There were a lot of kids my age there, Jessie was one of them. Every night, we were put up on the auction block and sold, for one night only. And the one who won the bidding could do what they liked to us." She didn't want to come out and say it.

He listened, stoicly. Her words washed over his ears and brain, but it didn't sink in. His expression went from anger to confusion. Squeezing her hand slightly, he moved his mouth to form the question, and wet his lips with his tongue. "Like, servants?"

Dove winced. "Like ... slaves," she told him gently. "The men who bought us were rough and they took what they wanted. They raped us, every way possible, every night." She closed her eyes; she didn't want to watch him walk away.

Utter shock set in and he sat back. His jaw slack and he stared out into space trying to absorb it all. His brain couldn't process it very quickly and he just sat there, a stunned, confused look on his face.

Her eyes opened slowly, watching him worriedly. She could see the shock on his face, chewing on her lip as she considered what to do. Any more information would probably overwhelm him. Dove rose, moving to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea. If all he needed was time, she had all the time in the world.

He was barely aware that she had gotten up. He couldn't fathom the things she was telling him, but she'd given him no reason she'd lie about something like this. His hands flattened on his thighs and his fingers splayed apart. He took several deep breaths, blowing them out slowly. Suddenly the room seemed too small, too constricting. Bile rose up in his throat as his overactive imagination began to kick into overdrive with the mental images of her abusers and what they did to her. Suddenly, he jumped up and ran towards the bathroom. He fell to his knees as the first vomit hit the water in the toilet. And he curled his body around it, thanking God for the coolness of the bowl and the floor.

The mug was placed back on the counter as soon as he paled, Dove chasing Ben to the bathroom. She dropped onto her knees beside him, rubbing her hand up and down his back as he vomited. "Easy ... shhh ..." Turning, she poured a glass of water from the tap, ready for when he was, wrapping her arm around his shoulders, wishing she could make this easier for him.

He sagged back against her, taking the glass of water, gratefully. He sipped it between swipes to his mouth from his hand. "That's disgusting." He shook his head, lip curled in an unpleasant grimace. Finally he garnered the strength to pull from her and lean with his back to the wall, bottom still on the floor. The question that was hidden behind that half open mouth wasn't one he wanted to ask, but had to. "Why didn't you defend yourself?"

"We were kids, no one was older than about seventeen," she told him quietly, shifting to sit with her back against the opposite wall of the bathroom. She must be completely repulsive to him now. "They beat us if we fought back. I have the scars to prove I didn't just lie back and let it happen." There was a faint hint of anger in her voice then, hurt that he would think her so low as to let just anyone touch her.

With glass in hand, he returned from the bathroom. Seeing her face scrunched up like that, he let out a little laugh. Maybe because the situation had seemed so tense, just moments before, he found her expression funny. "What's the matter?"

She started, opening her eyes too soon to hide the upset in them. "Nothing," she lied quietly, forcing a little smile as she looked up at him. "Are you okay?"

He shrugged a bit and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I think so. Lot to take in, you know?"

She nodded, rising and wrapping her arms around herself as she looked away. "You don't have to pretend, you know," she said quietly, her voice coming out choked. "You don't have to stay. I can ..." She trailed off, not trusting herself to finish without tears.

When she turned, his shoulders drooped and he sighed heavily. She was pushing him away, not trusting him to do the right thing. What could he say or do to convince her? He didn't know. He just stood there, quietly watching her as his chest rose and fell quietly.

It took a monumental effort, but Dove did not cry. What she did was whisper, very low, the truth. "I don't want you to go."

Stepping up behnd her, his hands went to her upper arms, just beneath her shoulders. "I don't want to go, either. And I'm not pretending, Dove. But if you ever want me to go, just say the word. I won't like it, but I won't do anything you don't want me to do."

Her head turned towards him when he touched her, a shudder of relief going through her body that he could even bring himself to do that. She listened intently, taking in everything he said, and turned to look at him, gazing up at him with clear, warm blue eyes. "Kiss me?" she asked softly. She had to know he could still look at her the same way, knowing now what he knew.

He felt the shudder and nearly brought his hands down, and did, when she turned around and looked up at him. Her eyes were so blue, so trusting that he nearly lost his breath. "Okay." He nodded slowly and brought his hands up to her jaw, cradling it gently between them as he lowered his head and kissed her softly.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Drag. Something pounded against the door, and then it swung wide open. "Some help over, here, please?" Jessie eyed the kissing duo in the living room. "Good grief, you're still going at it?"

This time, Dove didn't jump away, her lips clinging to Ben's for a long moment after Jessie spoke, and even when they parted, she didn't speak for a moment, smiling affectionately up at him. Then she turned to Jessie, her head tilting curiously. "Yes, hello, Jessie," she smiled, sliding an arm around Ben's waist shyly. "What on earth are you doing?"

He smiled into the kiss, knowing that there was more than one reason why she allowed it to linger as she did. Finally, he turned and slid his arm around Dove as they both watched Jessie intently.

Jessie stood there, a little out of breath. "Can one of you come and help me get this crate in the apartment? It's Jacob's." He stood back and there stood a long, tall crate, holding artwork in it.

"Oh! Oh, okay ..." Dove squeezed her arm around Ben's waist with a smile before she slipped out from his reach, skipping past Jessie with an even bigger smile to help him with said crate.

Ben and Jessie exchanged a glance, Jessie questioning, Ben nodding and they both smiled. Then Jessie picked up his end of the crate. "Jacob thought that the storm might have destroyed them. But some rubble fell onto it and protected the paintings." He was so excited that he could barely stand still as he moved the crate into the apartment.

Ben stood back and watched as they worked together. He couldn't help but wonder what life must have been like for the two in that auction place.

For a little thing, Dove was startlingly strong, strong enough to take her end of the crate with ease. She pretended not to have noticed the look passing between the men, choosing to ignore any private conversations they may have had about her. "Jacob thought the storm might have destroyed what?" she asked Jessie, rolling her eyes as she steered him into the living room. "What's in this?" Laying the crate down, she stretched, and seemingly absently, slipped back over to Ben.

"It's artwork, Dovey." Jessie was content to let the crate sit in the living room. His smile was wide and he seemed the happiest he'd been since Jacob's departure. "Jacob buys and sells artwork. He trades and stuff." With a nod, he moved into the kitchen and opened up the fridge to find something to drink.

Ben wrapped his arm around her waist when she stepped over to him. "You ok?" He looked down at her with a smile. That kiss had sealed everything.

She smiled up at Ben, slipping her hand into the back pocket of his pants. "Better than okay," she murmured softly, touching her cheek to his shoulder for a moment before she looked over at her brother. "So you went and rescued what - the Mona Lisa from the house?" she asked Jessie.

Ben clenched his backside when her hand found its way into his jeans pocket. He wasn't expecting that, but didn't fight it either. A grin down at her and he brought up his hand to lightly tap her little nose.

Jessie pulled a bottle of grape juice from the fridge and turned around. "I don't know, Dove. I didn't look, and I won't. It's none of my business." He frowned slightly and put the juice onto the table. Walking over, he put his hands between Dove and Ben, trying to wiggle them apart.

Pulling her into his lap, to stop the slapping, he held her tightly. "Didn't mean to scare you, Peanut. But I don't think that we're quite ready for that whole getting into each other's pants thing yet. Let's take our time, okay?"

Curled up in his lap, she could see the logic behind that. He knew what he was doing, she could trust him not to let her get scared or hurt. "Okay," she agreed quietly, tilting her head back to look at him slightly worriedly. "I still get kisses, though, don't I?"

"Mmm, let me think about that." His eyes rolled upwards and he narrowed them as if thinking. "Of course you do, Peanut." He grinned and brought his head down to kiss her softly.

She'd been watching him carefully as he made a show of thinking, smiling in relief and delight as he grinned down at her. Her hand slipped up to curl her fingers into his hair, holding him close as she responded to his kiss warmly.

His lips parted as his eyes closed and he prodded, seeking admittance. He wasn't sure if it were the right thing to do, but it felt like it was, so he proceeded.

She felt a trickle of what felt like icy heat slide down her spine as his lips parted, her own falling open barely moments later, following his lead as he kissed her. The feeling that followed was almost overwhelming, bringing her arching closer to him as her arms tightened about his body.

His tongue met hers and he felt his blood pressure rise. His arms tightened around her as he tasted the sweetness of her mouth. Suddenly, he pulled away and covered his own mouth. "Oh, I puked. God. How stupid of me." He searched her face. "I'm sorry, that had to of been disgusting."

To be honest, she hadn't noticed, and she said as much, smiling at his mortified expression. "I really didn't notice," she assured him with a soft laugh. "And besides ... you had water, and you washed your mouth out."

"Really?" He lowered his hand, returning it to her back. "You're an amazing kisser, Peanut." Softly he laughed, and hugged her tightly.

Blushing sweetly, she snuggled into him, stroking her hands against his back. "I'm learning from the best, I think," she told him shyly, glancing up before burying her face against his shoulder, breathing in the scent that was so uniquely his.

He was content to simply hold her like that. "Peanut?" He spoke after snuggling with her for a few minutes. "I should go park the bike in the garage."

She nodded reluctantly, not really wanting to let go, but aware that damage to his bike would not be the best thing to happen to their burgeoning relationship. "Okay," she smiled, beginning to move off his lap.

He slowly got up and reached into his pocket for the keys. "I'll be back, if you want?"

"Yes, please." It was out before she could stop it, and another blush pinked her cheeks in response as she clapped a hand over her mouth, giggling softly. "Sorry ... yes, I would like you to come back. Only if you want to."

He laughed as he walked towards the door. "I wouldn't have offered. See you in a few minutes, Peanut." And then he disappeared out of the door.

"See ya ..." Dove knew she only had a few minutes; Ben was true to his word, so she scurried over to Jessie's door and yanked it open, knowing he will have been listening somehow. "Happy?"

Jessie didn't have time to pull away from the door, so when it was thrown open, it hit him in the head and had him stumbling back. His hands covered his face and he groaned. "Jesus H Christ!" Hopping from one foot to the next he opened up his fingers to peek out at her.

Instead of feeling bad for almost braining her best friend, Dove merely giggled and leaned against the doorframe, waiting for the theatrics to die down. She fixed Jessie with a no-nonsense look. "What was all that silliness about?" she asked sweetly.

Finally he brought down his hands, and already bruising could be seen under his left eye. "What was what silliness about?" He folded his arms across his chest. "I wasn't being silly."

"Jessie ..." Dove relented, moving in to take a look at his eye. Gentle fingers touched the bruised areas. "You shouldn't have been spying. Ben's not going to rip my knickers off."

He winced and drew back every time her fingers touched the sensitive area around his eye. "Just can't be too careful, Dove. I want you to have a good time with Ben and all of that, but I don't want you to get hurt."

She rolled her eyes, tugging him out to the kitchen to wait while she rummage for a bag of frozen peas. She wrapped it up in a towel, and laid it over his eye. "I like him," she told Jessie quite calmly. "And he likes me. I told him about why my head's the way it is, and he's still here, Jelly-bean. Doesn't that sort of mean he won't hurt me?"

He was dragged and accepted the bag of peas. It felt good on his eye and he leaned his head back to keep it in place without his hands. "I suppose so, Dove. But don't get mad at me for trying to keep an eye out. I"ll always do that."

"I know." She slid over and hugged him gently, closing her eyes trustingly as she squeezed. "But can you try not to frighten my boyfriend away?"

It had to be strange for Jessie, with Dove going out each day - or night - with Ben. She was doing her best to make sure he didn't feel like she was leaving him behind, but she couldn't help wishing Jacob would come back soon. She didn't like seeing Jessie sad. Which was why she'd wangled tickets for both him and Ben - dependent on shifts - to come to the little private concert that was to be her debut with the quintet she was now employed with.

Standing up on the stage, close to the end of their set, her eyes finally turned to the audience, seated at private tables around the room, looking for her invited guests. She didn't relish the thought of lingering here on her own if they hadn't showed.

Jessie sat at the table, sipping a glass of wine and watching intently. He applauded the loudest, he thought, at the finish of each piece. Cheering on Dove, he bore such a proud gleam in his eyes. He was truly proud of her and how far she'd come.

Ben sat across from Jessie and vied for the title of loudest applauder when each piece was done. He'd even dressed up for the event in a charcoal gray suit with brilliant, electric blue tie. When she looked over, he waved and blew her a kiss.

You could definitely spot the moment she spotted them. Her face lit up happily, her entire posture straightened as she played out the final bars of the last piece the ensemble were to perform. Dressed - reluctantly - in the rather more revealing blue gown Jessie had bought on the sly for her, she had spent most of the day in a highly nervous state, desperate to get this evening over and done with.

Taking her bow, carefully so she didn't display quite how low the back of that dress was, Dove let the leader of the quintet escort her off the stage to put her instrument away before practically launching herself across the room towards Jessie and Ben.

They were both on their feet, along with the rest of the crowd, applauding. When she ran towards them, they both walked around opposite sides of the table and held their arms out. Who would she go to first?

Both, of course. She was small, but she was pretty insistent, each arm wrapping around each man and tugging them into a group hug sort of thing. She kissed both their cheeks, before releasing Ben with a private wink and a smile to squeeze Jessie warmly. There was a promise to make it up to him later in that smile.

They both gave her a one armed squeeze and Ben just smiled and stepped back as Dove hugged her brother.

"So proud of you, you played beautifully." Jessie whispered into her ear, giving her the tightest hug ever. "My Dove!" He laughed and hugged so tight that he picked her up and then placed her back down.

She giggled as her feet left the floor, squashing her cheek to Jessie's when he put her back down. "You really enjoyed it?" she asked them both, ever so slightly worried. "I completely flubbed the third movement in the Mendelsson, I was so embarrassed!" Her hand went to her back automatically, fingertips holding the hem of her dress a little higher as she glanced between the two men, stepping close to Ben to kiss his cheek a little more lingeringly.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it. And you didn't flub, you improvised." Ben grinned as she came close and gently lay his hand on the warm skin of her back. He returned the kiss to her cheek. "You were fantastic."

Jessie picked up his wine glass and nodded. "You were wonderful, Dove. Absolutely wonderful."

She smiled happily, hoping Jessie wouldn't notice the flush that came to her cheeks when she felt Ben's hand on her bare back. "I'm so glad you enjoyed it," she gushed, practically bouncing with excitement. "Do I get a drink? Wasn't the cello beautiful? It's so crowded in here!"

The after party was in full swing and there were waiters and waitresses walking around with trays of champagne flutes. Ben grabbed one and held it out for Dove. "Here you go and yes, the cello was to die for. And it's a bit crowded. Did you want to stay?" He smiled, nearly laughed at her bubbly excitement.

Jessie just smiled and sipped. Pulling out a chair, he sat.

She downed half the glass without thinking about it, looking around at all the strange faces. "I should stay a bit, shouldn't I?" she mused, squeezing Ben's hand gently before plunking herself down on Jessie's lap with the grin only a sister can produce. "Only a little while, I'm not really comfortable with crowds. They make me nervous. Although ... I suppose I'll have to get used to strangers now, huh?"

Jessie grinned and placed his arms around Dove's waist when she sat. "You should mingle. These are your friends, your co-workers. Shoo, go have fun." He kissed her cheek and pat her on the head.

Ben grabbed another flute from a passing waiter and held it in one hand, watching the duo with a smile.

She scrunched up her face reluctantly. "Do I have to?" was her whining reply. "I don't know anyone except the guys, and they're all ..." She waved her hand towards the rest of the quintet, who were mingling with wives, girlfriends, family, and potential groupies. "Besides, Marcus keeps making comments about my dress." She put on an affected little shudder, downing the rest of her champagne.

At that point, Jessie hugged her tightly then let go. His jacket was removed and placed around her shoulders. "No, we can go home if you'd like." He glanced around and that Marcus fellow was given a right nasty stare.

Ben stood there and watched, brows raised slightly. "Or we could go get some hot chocolate or something else." He added.

"Very old." He chuckled and pulled her even closer. "Just driving around. Never set a destination. So we could get lost in here, all night, if you'd like." He nearly growled playfully as he nuzzled against her cheek. "You won't hear me complaining."

A little shiver went down her spine as he growled practically in her ear, giggling softly as she turned towards him in an unfamiliar mix of curiosity, want and trust. "I'm not complaining, either," she murmured with a grin, blue eyes twinkling mischievously.

"I surely hope not." His grin was a bit crooked, a bit wicked. His eyes gleamed as he leaned forward and kissed her a bit more forcefully than usual. The champagne had his head spinning, just a bit.

She squeaked softly, a little surprised but quick to warm to this forceful side of him, letting her eyes slide shut as she leaned into him. Champagne was certainly doing wonders to lower her inhibitions, she had no idea about his.

As she melted into the kiss, he pressed further. His arms strong around her as he pushed with his feet against the door to attempt to lay her back on the seat of the limo. His kisses were fevered and full of lust.

She was too slight to put up much of a fight, even if she had wanted to, lying back without much resistance as her arms curled around him tightly. There was a tiny flash of fear when she registered how alone they were, and how insistent he was, but above anything else, Dove trusted Ben not to hurt her. Instead of startling and pushing away, her lips parted, inviting him closer.

He was breathing heavily and his hands moved from her waist to curl around those cute, perky breasts. Thumbs caressed over the smooth, silky material. His mouth remained attached to hers. His knee went between hers and he pressed his hips down against her. "Dove ..." he sighed into her mouth.

Her eyes snapped open as his hands roamed, a sharp gasp leaving her at the sheer crackle of heat that swept through her in answer to his assured touch on her. But with it came another little prickle of fear; not of him, but of what he seemed to be doing without a thought for their comfort or confidence in one another. "Ben?" she murmured, not wanting the embrace to end, but afraid to let it continue without at least slowing down a little.

His mouth had moved from hers and his eyes were closed as he suckled on her neck. His hands were working the material around her breasts loose and he nearly had flesh on flesh when she called his name. "Mhhmm?"

It was harder than she might have thought to separate the rising heat, the willingness for him to just go on, from that insistent voice telling her it needed to at least slow down or they would both regret it. Dove moaned softly, her back arching on instinct before she caught herself again, pushing gently at him. "Ben, please ... not so fast ..."

He felt her arch against him and he groaned softly. But her gentle plea was drowned out. "Dove, oh ..." he groaned against her skin, breath hot as his mouth suckled that already bruising flesh between his teeth.

Her mouth fell open in another loud gasp, her skin flushing with heated desire. But her mind wouldn't be quiet, and she pushed again, pleading directly against his ear. "Please ... Ben, please stop ... you're scaring me ..."

Now that he did hear. Leaning back quickly, his hair framed his face as he looked down at her. His jaw slack and he simply breathed heavily. Cobalt blues stared down at her with a mixture of lust and unbound fear.

She let her head fall back, relieved and disappointed that he had stopped. Blue met blue as she looked up at him, that small flash of fear gone already, just a warning to cool things down. Her hand lifted, fingertips brushing his hair out of his eyes, and she smiled gently, leaning up to brush her lips softly against his. "Not so rough," she whispered to him tenderly. "Please?"

His breathing was ragged and he waited for her hand to move from his face before pulling back and sitting in the seat. "I'm sorry." he breathed out finally and closed his eyes. It was too close a call. "You're right, was too rough."

Dove groaned softly, closing her eyes as her head thumped back against the seat for a moment. Then she pulled herself up beside him, leaving her coat on the leather and pulling her scarf off. Her hands moved to cradle his jaw, forcing him him to look at her. "But you stopped when I asked you to," she reminded him, gentle voice firm as she met his gaze. "And it's not like I didn't like it. Because I did ... a lot." She blushed, laughing a little.

He turned to her when she moved his face and he nodded with a grin. "I did, and you did." He put his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. "I can't believe how crazy you make me feel. There was something inside of me that did not want to stop."

She smiled shyly, curling her arms around his shoulders. "There was a big part of me that didn't want you to stop, either," she confessed softly, stroking her fingers through the hair on the back of his head. "I just ... in my head, this is my first time, you know? And I want to you to take charge, I don't know what I'm doing. But in the back of a car?" Her brow rose impishly. "Is that really how it happens?"

"Sometimes it does." he laughed softly and playfully nudged her nose with his own. "All depends on how kinky you want to be." He laughed again and turned to look out of the window. "This is so phase four. Let's enjoy phase two."

Her brow creased with amused confusion. "I thought phase four was marriage?" she queried with a soft laugh, following his gaze to watch the lights go by outside the window. She didn't move off his lap, though, comfortable and warm cuddled there.

Her lips curved in a soft smile. "Why wouldn't I want you to?" she asked. Her hand slid into his pocket to lace her fingers with his warmly. "C'mon, I bet Jessie's either in bed or at Jacob's."

Because I'm a prude. He thought it, but didn't say it. He just smiled and was easily led towards the door. "I don't mind Jessie being here. I mean, it's his place too." He smiled and waited for her to open the door, his fingers gently squeezing hers, trying to keep them away from certain areas.

With her violin under one arm, she unlocked the door and gently pulled him inside, closing the door behind him. Her head tilted as she laid her keys and case aside, looking at him in concern. "Are you all right? You seem ... awkward."

He let go of her hand to allow her to open the door. Once inside, he closed the door behind him and started to shrug out of his coat. "I'm fine." He smiled again, trying to reassure her.

Dove paused a moment, watching him as he moved about, before turning to pull her scarf off and hang it up. Maybe a little unfortunate that she had her back to him as she shrugged out of her own coat - that dress hadn't got any more conservative since the last time he'd seen it.

"You know, you do look wonderful tonight." He walked up behind her and put his hands on her waist.

"You really think so?" She wasn't being difficult; Dove genuinely didn't understand what Ben saw in her, but she wasn't about to complain that he liked her. Her head turned towards him, hands dropping to wrap about his fingers at her waist.

"Yeah, I do." he pulled her back, against his stomach and lowered his head to kiss the base of her neck. "And you played beautifully. Not every night you get a standing O."

"Oh?" She grinned impishly, even as her skin flushed with enjoyment of his kisses, leaning back into him. "I don't remember ever not getting one." She giggled at her own joke, testament to the champagne still working its mojo on her.

"Well, expect them from now on. You and that quintet are very good." He gave her another kiss, nuzzled his cheek to hers, then pulled away. Walking over to the couch, he pulled his tie loose and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

Giggling softly, her fingers lingered with his as he walked away. She made her way to the couch by a slightly different route, opening Jessie's door quietly to have a quick look in at him before continuing on her way. Hopping a bit - which made interesting things happen under the silky material of her dress - she pulled her shoes off, groaning in relief. "You have no idea how uncomfortable those things are."

He chuckled and lowered himself onto the couch. "I can only imagine having to walk on your toes all of the time." Leaning back, he looked up at her. He'd seen the wiggle and jiggle as she jumped about, had felt her body under his in the limo. He knew full well what she had to offer, which made his resolution that much harder.

With a complete lack of understand as to what was making Ben uncomfortable, Dove hitched up her skirt to her thigh and slid down onto the couch beside him, Indian-style. "Fashion is just another way for men to torture women into thinking they're enjoying themselves," she grinned, nodding firmly.

His hand went to his face and his head leaned back as he rubbed his eyes. She was going to drive him absolutely insane. "Most designers are men, that's true. But walking around in a monkey suit all night isn't exacty comfortable either. Wing tip shoes with no insoles make my feet hurt." He didn't mean to sound whiney.

"So take them off," she suggested, leaning down to grab his foot and drag it up into her lap. Her smile was sweetly wicked as she made quick work of his laces.

With one foot in his lap, he was forced to place the other there, too. That caused him to lean back and sigh softly. "Thank you, Peanut." He smiled as his hands went to remove the tie from around his neck. "You're really too good to me. But careful, my feet really stink."

"No, they don't ..." Unable to resist, Dove leaned down to sniff his toes, coming up with a wince. "Whoah ... I take it back. You could commit biological warfare with those!" Her eyes sparkled teasingly at him.

"Warned you." He grinned and wiggled his toes inside of his black socks. "I've tried sprays and powders and gels. Nothing worked." He grinned and put his hands behind his head. "And I drool in my sleep, too."

"Take your shoes and socks off and go barefoot whenever you can," she poked his sole gently, testing to see if he was ticklish. "And sleep on a towel?" Dove giggled, rising up on her knees and leaning over to him. She had every intention of getting herself thoroughly kissed tonight.

His toes curled upwards and he jerked his foot away from her poking fingers. "Hey, no fair. I wasn't ready." He grinned and when she started to crawl towards him, over him, he tried valiantly not to stare at the cleavage being unknowingly shown off. "Whew, hot in here."

"Ben ..." Dove giggled at his attempt at good taste; she couldn't say she was being eaten by his gaze, but she was definitely being gently nibbled. Unfortunately for him, though, she was pretty determined, crawling right into his lap with a smile. "Why don't you take off your jacket, if you're so hot?"

He'd even forgotten it was on. Arms moved to encircle her lightly. "I think that you're out to seduce me. Is that true?" He closed his eyes as he nuzzled her neck, gently nipping at the skin there. "Because it's working, little minx."

He turned off the heat and sighed softly. "Yeah, like it's been so great up until now." He tapped the spoon on the side of the pan and then tossed it into the sink with a loud clank. Reaching for the mugs, he stopped mid-reach and turned to look at her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." He hugged her tightly.

Dove felt like she'd been slapped in the face when he said that, flushing unhappily as she looked away. "Yes, you did mean it," she said softly, curling into his arms and hugging him back warmly. "I'm sorry I've been so much trouble, Jessie."

"Since I met you, things have gotten better and better." He kept hold of her, not wanting to let go. "You gave me a reason to leave that place and you gave me responsibility, you made me grow up when I didn't want to. You've done so much for me, Dove. I didn't mean that, I promise."

She rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek, not agreeing or disagreeing with what he said. Nothing she said would change his mind, after all. "Can I have honey and cinnamon in my milk?" she asked with childlike enthusiasm. "I promise, I'll get out of my pretty dress so I don't spill."

His arms dropped and he turned back to the pan of milk. "Sure you can." He reached for the mugs and put them onto the counter. "You don't have to act for me, Dove. I'll be ok."

She stepped back, sighing softly. "I'm not acting," she told him quietly, confused and upset and not knowing how she could make Jessie feel any better. "I'm just me, why can't you accept that?"

He gathered the cinnamon and honey, depositing it into the cup before pouring the steaming milk over it. "I know you're worried about me, I see it in your face. But I'm going to be fine. You don't have to act like you need me anymore."

"Jessie ... you're my brother, I love you. I'm never going to not need you." Dove turned quickly, not wanting to let him see her cry, and scurried into her bedroom, slipping out of the beautiful dress and into stripey pyjamas. She didn't understand; how could he possibly think she didn't need him any longer?

"I love you too." He said quietly as she left the room. He plopped a spoon down into her mug and stirred it quietly. Jessie was on the very edge of losing control and his fingers gripped the spoon tightly. Biting his lips, he stared down into the little funnel he'd created in her now brown milk.

She returned very quietly, standing in the doorway in her oversized pyjamas and sleep socks to watch him worriedly. Dove didn't know what to say anymore. It seemed like no matter what she said, he only heard what he wanted to hear.

By that time, Jessie had poured his own mug and was sitting at the table, sipping. His hands were wrapped around the mug for warmth. One foot was up in the chair with him and he had his arms on either side of his leg. Her steaming mug sat across the table from him. "It's going to get cold."

She moved to sit beside him, reaching over for her mug as she tucked her knees up against her chest. Her hands curled around the mug for a long moment as she sipped in silence. Then she reached out, laying one heated hand against his back. "Why won't you talk to me?"

"What's there to talk about?" He shrugged and took another sip of the warm milk. "You know all of my nightmares, you know everything that's bothered me. I just don't want to be a whiney brat. You've got good things going on. I don't want to bring you down."

"You think I can enjoy the good stuff while the most important person in my life gets more and more unhappy?" she demanded softly. "It doesn't matter that I know it all, what matters is that you're not dealing with it. Isn't that what you said happened to me? I didn't deal with it, and look where it got me. Jessie, I don't want to have to watch you fall apart at the seams just because you're trying to keep me protected. I don't need it. I need you."

What he didn't need was a lecture on what he already knew and accepted, and had it pointed out that he was doing nothing about it. Picking up the mug, he growled and threw it at the wall, shattering it. "Don't you think I know that?"

Dove jumped violently, crying out in fright when he threw the mug. Her hands came up to cover her mouth, finding herself shaking in fear. She'd never been afraid of Jessie before this moment. "Why don't you do something about it then?"

"What the hell do you want me to do, Dove?" He ran his hands through his hair and searched for more things to destroy. When he found nothng, he pounded his fists on the table, over and over. "Why the hell did they have to do that to you? I didn't care what they were doing to me! But they were doing it to you! Why'd they have to hurt you, too! And now they're going to hurt Jacob and I can't do anything! I can't do anything at all. He wouldn't let me go because I'm weak! Because he's afraid I'm going to screw up his plans! And... and..." By this time, Jessie was in a sobbing jag.

It took more courage than she had ever needed before, but Dove fought her way through Jessie's flailing hands to wrap her arms around his head, holding him tightly against her heart. "Shhh," she murmured to him, rocking him gently back and forth as he sobbed. There was no point speaking until he was calm, he wouldn't hear it.

He lifted his head as best he could with her arms around them. "I enjoyed what they did to me!" He screamed it out at the top of his lungs, the anger, fear and degrading emotions he'd been carrying around inside of him for the past seven years all pouring out in that simple statement.

The sheer force of emotion in his voice was enough to bring Dove's emotions rising with his, tears filling her eyes in sympathy for him. She had suspected it, thinking it the only reason he would not tell her the details of what was done. He'd said it, though; it was a good thing, even if it hurt him to do so.

All that was left was a shell. Jessie felt empty and drained. He sagged against her and closed his eyes. The tears wouldn't even come any longer. There was nothing left inside. Nothing at all.

"Jacob's calling," was all she said, gesturing to the phone. How on earth was she going to explain all this to Jessie, let alone Jacob?

"Oh." He opened up the phone and put it to his ear. "Hello?" His voice still hoarse from the shouting earlier. He reached out and took Dove's hand.

She squeezed his hand gently, quiet. Maybe Jacob could fix Jessie.

"Hello? Hello? Jessie is that you?" The line had bad static, but his voice could still be made out.

Jessie squeezed Dove's hand and he frowned into the phone. "Jacob? Where are you?" He gave Dove a confused look. "I'm putting you on speaker." He pulled the phone down from his ear. and pushed a button. Suddenly the static filled the small room.

"I just got out of a club and I'm getting a taxi," there was a pause and it sounded like Jacob had put the phone on his shoulder as he yelled, "hey! hey!" and then put the speaker back to his lips, "On speaker?" Jessie didn't tend to put him on speaker phone so he paused at it being out of the routine but made no comment. Once it sounded like he got into the cab with his bodyguard, the background noise dropped off and he was more clear, "Hey. Sorry about that. How're you doin?"

"I found your paintings. They're safe, and here. Just tell your courrier to pick them up here." He spoke quietly and slowly as he gazed over to Dove. "I think you need to ask Dove, Jacob. I"m not sure what's going on, but I don't think it's good."

Her eyes lifted to Jessie's, wary of saying anything out of turn. But it was one hell of a relief to hear Jacob's voice. "Hi, Jacob," she managed quietly, squeezing Jessie's fingers tightly. "Things are ... interesting ... here."

"You did? That's incredible!" Jacob's voice picked up several tones and then he sighed. He leaned back into the taxi cab and gave the driver the address to his hotel. He stared at the dots of water on the window as he spoke, "I need to ask Dove? What?" a brief touch of irritation like a man who thinks a tasteless game is being played, "Dove? Is that you? Interesting?"

"Jacob, I think Jessie needs you to come home for a little bit," she spoke up rather bravely, considering what she'd just gone through. "He-he's not coping very well, and I'm too little to deal with him."

"Coping?" It was clear that outside of the storm and the issues he was facing in New York currently that Jacob was unaware of what else there was for Jessie to be coping with. He sighed, "Well, that's part of why I am here. To get rid of some of the skeletons in both your closets. I can't do that and be there are the same time."

Jessie frowned, even more confused. He really wanted to know exactly what he'd done.

"The skeletons are out of the closet," Dove told him, looking over at Jessie apologetically. "Jessie just nearly smothered me trying to protect somebody called Christine from Tony. He wasn't himself, Jacob, he was talking to the past. He didn't even know who I was."

At that point, Jessie wanted to make himself small, really small. He'd hurt Dove, and he'd promised he'd never do that. Hugging his knees to his chest, he lowered his face to hide behind his knees as he cried softly.

"What? Why?" And then Jacob sighed and the line was quiet. So quiet it was like he had hung up the phone. Then he said while scratching his brow with the nail of his thumb, "I'll be there tomorrow then. Tell Jessie not to worry about getting my affairs like the house in order. I'll call my dad and get there by, I dunno, six or so in the evening."

Dove sighed with relief, scooting closer to wrap her arm around Jessie gently. "Thank you, Jacob," she spoke into the phone. "I wouldn't ask unless it was important." Her hand stroked through Jessie's hair affectionately. "Speak to him, Jelly-bean."

He lifted his head and frowned. "No, Jacob. I'm a big boy and I can handle this on my own. You went there to accomplish something, I won't have you coming home to babysit me. I won't. I don't need a babysitter!"

"Then you'll have me there cause I miss you. Goodnight, love," and a pause before, "Thanks, Dove." And the line went dead. Jacob didn't stay to hear it returned or give Jessie the room with which to argue with him. In the taxi cab he looked at his bodyguard Cameron, who said nothing and was also looking out a window. The grey cement town had a way of making you feel alone in a crowded room. He looked back out his window and worked on his lower lip in thought. Damn it.

"Gah!" Jessie kicked his legs out, throwing a right temper tantrum. "I am the adult here, I am the one who takes care of things! I don't need to have my hand held and I do not need a damn baby sitter!" He was fuming mad now.

Dove rescued the phone and slid out of the way of his kicking legs, keeping her mouth shut. She still didn't know what to do, but at least there was a time limit now on how long she'd have to not know on her own.

Jessie fumed and threw that tantrum until he wore himself out. Finally, he just sat there, drained. "I really don't need a babysitter." He said quietly. "Please, call him back and tell him to stay. He had a lead and everything. I don't want to ruin it."

Wrapped up in her coat and scarf, hands deep in her pockets, Dove waited outside the cafe for Ben's shift to end. They hadn't actually agreed to meet here, but Jacob was back and she knew Jessie didn't want her to hear any of his confessions to his lover. So she'd peeled out and come here, not really wanting to be on her own, either.

Wearing a white shirt, black trousers and shoes with a matching black tie and a red half apron, Ben was hustling from one table to another. Laughing and taking orders, delivering food. His face was flushed from the exertion, but he didn't seem to mind overly much. When it was getting close to the end of his shift, he spotted Dove standing outside, in the cold. He moved to the door and held it open, an invitation to step inside to wait. "Well hello." His smile was warm and genuine.

She spun about as the door opened, startled, and covered the expression with a little laugh. "Hi," she said softly, muffled through her scarf. Shuffling through the door, her boots and jeans were testament to how long she'd been outside - soaked to the knee and covered with sodden leaves. "Sorry, I know I wasn't supposed to come by so early. I can wait."

He put his hand behind her back and ushered her towards an empty booth. "You're freezing, Peanut." Looking down at her with a slight frown of concern. "Let me get you a cup of coffee before I clock out. Then we'll talk, ok?"

Little red nose poking out over the top of her scarf, Dove nodded, letting herself be ushered towards the booth. "Don't worry about the coffee, I'm not that cold," she lied, tugging the material out of the way as she sat down. "I won't be in the way here, will I?"

"No, you're not in the way." He leaned over to give her a quick kiss before moving away. "One coffee, coming up. And take off your shoes." He moved away quickly to avoid any arguments over the order he'd given her.

"But -" She stared after him as he hurried away, rolling her eyes with a fond smile. And Jessie had thought Ben wouldn't be able to look after her ... She slid into the booth, refusing to take her boots off on principle as she huddled in the seat, warming up very slowly.

Ben delivered the last of the trays of food before clocking out. Grabbing a bowl of cream packets and sugar, the huge cup of steaming coffee in the other hand. He walked over and placed both in front of her before sliding into the seat beside her. "Geez, Peanut. How long were you out there?" Putting his arm around her, he pulled her close to share his body heat.

"Couple of hours," she admitted quietly, trying to pull away. "Don't, I'll get you all wet." Her hands finally came out of her pockets, pale and red with cold as well, and wrapped around the coffee mug gratefully.

"I've got a fresh uniform in the back. Let me help warm you up." His hands rubbed her arms gently and he continued to keep her as close as possible while giving her room to hold the cup of coffee. "You should have come in, Peanut. Are you hungry? Is everything ok?"

She leaned against him, not really having the strength to ward off kindness tonight. "I'm fine, really," she assured him quietly. "I ate a couple of hours ago, and ... Jacob's back, so I cleared out to give him and Jessie some privacy. They need it," she added, looking down at the mug and taking a sip.

Leaning his head against hers, he kept his leg pressed against her thigh and could feel the chill of her skin through his pants. "Oh, that was nice of you." He gave her an adoring smile. "But you should have come inside."

She looked up at him through her windblown hair, smiling. "I didn't want to get in the way," she told him gently. "You don't concentrate when I'm around. Like now ... weren't you supposed to clock out?"

"I already did." He nodded affirmatively. "Now I feel bad and look like a jerky boyfriend who didn't notice his freezing girlfriend standing out in the dampness." He shook his head. "Bad for my street cred, baby." He winked playfully.

"Well, in your defence, I wasn't right outside until about ten minutes ago," she grinned, pressing her cold nose against his neck playfully. "I've been walking around mainly."

He shivered as her nose pressed against his warm neck. But he didn't pull away from her. In face, he turned his head, opened his mouth and placed his lips around her nose. That'll warm it up, he thought.

Dove squeaked and pulled her face away, rubbing her nose with a soft giggle. "Ben?" she said quietly, sounding more than a little bit vulnerable. "Can we go to your place tonight?"

He chuckled when she pulled away. "Hey, trying to make you warm. And yeah, we can go to my place. It's trashed, but sure." Nodding his head, he leaned to kiss her softly. "I've got a fireplace. We'll get you nice and warm in no time."

She smiled against his lips, kissing him affectionately despite the chill in her skin. "Thank you," she murmured sweetly. "Didn't really want to be on my own tonight."

"Peanut, what's wrong?" He leaned back a bit and looked down upon her with concern. "And don't give me that 'I'm fine' crap. I don't believe it and I don't like being lied to. So talk to me."

She looked awkward. "It's not really my place to tell anyone," she murmured uncomfortably. "Jessie ... got weird, last night. He didn't know it was me, and he was talking about people I've never heard of. It was just like the way he described me as being."

He grinned as she walked out, then back into the house. "Yeah, fix me dinner. I'm plum tired." He lifted a brow, his grin broad, eyes twinkling as he teased.

Dove's coat came off her back and she threw it at him, laughing. "I'm not your wife," she protested with a giggle, "or your mother! And you owe me something warm to wear, I'm freezing!"

He caught her coat and laughed. "Alright, alright. I'll be right back." Tossing the coat onto the back of the couch, he disappeared back into the bedroom for a moment. When he returned, he had a flannel pair of pants, a sweater and thermal socks. "You can change in the bathroom or bedroom, if you'd like."

She nodded, giggling as she gathered the armful of clothing into her arms, and leaned up to kiss him tenderly. "You need to change, too," she pointed out softly. "You're all damp and chilly."

Kissing her gently, he pat her bottom. "You go on. I'll change in a bit. Need to get the fire started." He turned then and headed to the far wall. A box of kindling sat beside the bricked in fireplace. And he set to starting the fire.

Picking the nearest door - which turned out to be a bedroom - Dove changed as quickly as she could, given that numb fingers do not make for a quick action with buttons. The clothing was hopeless big on her, but it was warm, more importantly, and it smelt of Ben. Smiling, she shuffled back out to lay her clothes over a chair, looking over at him shyly.

With the help of a bit of starter fluid, Ben had a nice little fire going. He heard the door open and he turned to smile at her. "You're so cute." Softly he chuckled and he pat the oversized bean bag chair that he sat in. "Come warm your toes."

She shuffled over, thumping down next to him and cuddling in, her gaze turned to the fire. "Thank you, I know I look daft," she grinned. "I happen to like it. I smell like you."

"You poor thing." He grinned and curled himself around her. "Are you starting to warm up?" He gently moved the hair from her face. She did look incredibly cute in the overside pajamas and socks that went to her thighs.

"Mmm, slowly." Her head tilted back to look at him, automatically canting to feel a little more pressure from his hand with a soft smile. "Thanks for letting me come back here."

"Good." He watched the fire until he realized she was staring at him. Turning his head, he grinned. "Well, couldn't just leave you out in the cold. And I wouldn't want to be around when two men who love each other have a reunion. Not for me."

"They're very sweet," she informed him, "and pretty discreet, given they've been getting up to all sorts with me in the flat." Her lips twitched into a slightly evil smile. "Do you want me to go into detail?"

"You watch?" he gave her a horrified look. "Please, no. I have an imagination and that's good enough for me. No exit only stories."

"I don't watch!" She thumped him; not a good thump, she was very small, after all. Laughing, Dove cuddled into Ben once again, pressing her lips to his neck fondly. "They wouldn't do that in front of me, anyway. I'm too sweet and precious to scar like that."

He laughed as he was thumped, and curled his arms around her as she cuddled. The warmth between them was starting to grow, wiping away the chill. "You are sweet and precious, Peanut."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't," was her grumbling reply, tilting her head back to fix him with a very half-hearted glare. "I'm not either of those things, I'm just Dove. I'm happy being just Dove, too." A twitch of her lips betrayed her smile. "I'd like a kiss, please."

"Sweet and precious, just Dove." He nodded with a broad grin. "And you'd like a what? I'm getting hard of hearing, see. Going to have to speak up a bit."

"Don't make me force you," she laughed, pressing as close as was humanly possibly and puckering up outrageously. "Please, sir, I'd like a kiss."

"Oh, you said the magic word." He chuckled and lowered his head to give her a soft kiss. Pulling back, he smiled. "So, how am I as a kissing teacher?"

"Mmm, I don't know," she mused, nuzzling against his jaw. "Am I getting better?" Her hand crept up to touch his cheek, turning his face back to hers for another soft kiss.

His face was easily turned towards her. "Getting better, all the time." He mused against her lips. "Better and better."

"Don't want better," she grinned, murmuring as her lips moved against his, "want perfect." And her hand curled into his hair, pressing him closer as her lips parted tentatively against his.

His eyes fluttered closed as her lips parted and he took advantage. She had a bittersweet taste, coffee mixed with the taste that was uniquely her own. Arms tightened as he pulled her even closer.

Pulled flush against him, Dove was quite simply in heaven. Any chill left in her limbs was forgotten in the rush of heat that came from deep inside as he pulled her close, letting her mouth explore his, lost in his scent, his taste, his touch.

Swept up into the heat of the passionate kiss, Ben's hands began to roam over her back and sides. And as the moment began to fade, he gently pulled back, placing the kiss into the book of memories in his mind. "I'd say you hit perfection."

It'd been a couple of days since Dove had stayed the night. One night had turned into a few days and Ben was growing accustomed to having her around. But he needed some air and had taken a walk, by himself. There were things to think about, and he had taken his time. When he got back to the little house, his hair was windblown and his face was ruddy from being out in the elements. He bore a smile as he let himself in.

The house was filled with the smell of vanilla, which no doubt was coming from the candles on the mantel over the fireplace. Dove had evidently been tidying, among other things. The little table was set with two places, a candle set between them flickering merrily, and the smell from the kitchen suggested she'd been cooking as well. The girl herself was waiting somewhat nervously next to the table, her lower lip caught between her teeth. She wore a green mini-dress that hung loose off her shoulder, and her hair fell charmingly around her face. It really is amazing what a determined young woman can do in the time it takes to take a walk.

Ben paused when he closed the door behind himself. The intermingling scents of vanilla and whatever she'd been cooking had him frowning, confused. "Dove?" He called out as he walked slowly into the hall. When the table, and Dove beside it, came into view, his eyes went wide and his face lit up. "What's all of this?" His eyes went from candle to candle until they landed on Dove.

Her eyes were wide, unblinking as she studied his expression, terrified he'd be angry with her for taking the initiative. When his face lit up, she let out a low sigh of relief, a smile touching her lips as she twisted her hands together nervously. "Dinner?" she suggested innocently.

"Dinner sounds wonderful." He couldn't help but notice the flicker of candlelight that danced in her eyes. He took a step forward, towards her. "God, you are amazing."

The nerves radiating from her were palpable, but her smile widened as he spoke. Warm and sweet, all lit up from the inside, and it was all for him. "I, I didn't know what you really like, so I made stuff from what you had in the kitchen," she told him shyly, smoothing her hands down the exceedingly short skirt of her dress. "And I bought something else, but that's a surprise." Then she skipped forward and kissed the corner of his mouth. "You're not mad with me for this?"

"Of course I'm not mad." Looking down at her with a broad, happy smile on his face. "You've already surprised me once tonight, I get another surprise? What a Christmas." He pulled her close and lowered his forehead to hers. "And you look absolutely ravishing."

Her cheeks pinked just a little at the compliment, hands stroking gently against his back as she looked up at him. "Hope you're hungry," she murmured, batting her lashes. Hungry for what ... that was up to him, for now.

"Starving." In more ways than one. He pulled away from her and made a great to do about sitting down at the table. It was definitely more decked out than any other time since he'd owned it. "Let the feast begin."

She blushed, smiling sweetly as she laid the bottle down again. "I just wanted to do something nice for you," she said quietly, deliberately looking away in case her ulterior motive was too obvious. "And I really have to take these shoes off, they're pinching." Laughing softly, she swivelled in her chair, revealing her legs up to the hem of the dress which barely covered her bottom. Leaning down, she undid the silvery sandals, wiggling her toes as they were released from captivity.

"But you did do something nice for me." Lifting the glass of wine, he sipped and leaned back in his chair. "You said yes." His head tilted to the side slowly as he moved to reveal those creamy thighs. Absently, he licked his lower lip, pulling it into his mouth before it sprung back into place. His eyes travelled the length of her leg, right down to those wriggling toes.

With all her careful preparations, there was no way Dove wasn't aware of Ben watching her. But even so, it took a little courage to slow herself down, letting him take his time as she stretched her legs out a little. Even as she stood, she kept her movements gracefully slow, just like Colby had suggested. "Main course?" she suggested with a blushing smile, leaning down to brush his nose with an eskimo kiss - as well as reveal a glimpse of what she was wearing beneath her new dress.

Cobalt blues widened as she stretched and then got up. Suddenly, she was speaking? He blinked rapidly and looked up. "Oh, yeah, that''ll be..." his jaw hung low as she leaned down for that eskimo kiss. He sensed a set up and it was working, damn good too.

Her blue eyes twinkled with excited mischief as she took in the effect she was having on him, silently praising Colby for her foresight in suggesting a seduction. Collecting the bowls, Dove slipped out into the kitchen to put the dishes into water, soaking them rather than washing. She leaned against the counter for a moment or two, trying to calm her fluttering heartbeat, and served the main course, padding back out to Ben with her shy smile back in place. "Here we go ... grilled tuna in honey-mustard marinade, and basmati rice," she beamed, secure in the knowledge that this, she knew how to cook.

He turned in his chair as he watched her swaying hips and tiny feet. When she disappeared into the kitchen, he sagged into his chair and blew out a breath. A deep pull from the glass of wine nearly finished it and he unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. It was definitely warm in here. When she returned he sat back up and put the glass down onto the table. A side glance as she bent to put the plate down, for another peek at, well, those peaks. "Looks diviine." He nearly drooled, and then turned his attention to the plate. "I can't believe this is all stuff I had in the house. I usually open a can of ravioli for dinner." Grinning at her from across the table, he picked up his fork and knife.

Dove's face, if possibly, got even darker pink with his heated gaze down her dress, sliding into her seat across from him with a quietly delighted laugh. "I'm glad you approve," she smiled, trying not to fidget with growing excitement as she, too, raised her knife and fork. "Well ... most of it you had. I had to go buy the tuna and the - wait, no, that's still a surprise." Grinning mischievously, she poured him a little more wine, hoping he wasn't going to drink too much, or she'd have to subject him to her coffee making skills.

"Still, this is an amazing dinner." He smiled at her from across the table. The wine was left alone for now as he sliced into the tender tuna and lifted a forkful to his mouth. No act this time as he smiled. "Wow, can you make this like, once a week?"

Now, that thought hadn't crossed his mind. Well, it did once, but when she announced it across the table, he couldn't resist. Sitting forward, his hand curled around that wine glass, he put his elbows to the table. "Well, do you?" The waggle of his brows and the smirk on his face were enough to tell that her teasing his thighs was being reciprocated, verbally.

She leaned backward, slouching a little in her chair to give herself a little more leverage, teasing with her toes as she answer. "Maybe we do," she grinned, eyes twinkling wickedly back at him. It was just another way of playing, she'd realised, not as scary as people made out. "Maybe we have secret meetings where we all strip off and go skinny dipping in rivers of chocolate." Giggling as she said it, her toes were also reaching higher.

He wasn't expecting to have his bluff called. Not so brazenly as that. And the mental image of her naked, dipped in chocolate... and her foot brushed past.. Quickly he got up from the table. "I've got to use the bathroom." His voice squeaked a bit and he hurried out of the room.

"Oh! Okay ..." Instantly afraid she'd done something terribly wrong, Dove sighed as Ben hurried out of the room, rising slowly to her feet to collect their dishes and take them to the kitchen. Although, thinking about it ... Her lips curved into a small smile again. He hadn't looked angry or upset, and she knew him well enough by now to know what those feelings looked like. Dove smiled to herself, collecting the surprise of her home-cooked meal. Covered with a cloth, she set the tray down on the floor in front of the fire, bringing their glasses and the wine with her, and curled up on the beanbag to wait for him, bathed in firelight.

When he got to the bathroom, he unzipped and did his thing. Well, as best he could with a raging hard on. Cold water was ran and he stuck his hand under the tap for as long as he could stand it. When his hand was good and cold, he touched himself. Almost yelping at the nearly painful experience, he was relieved to watch that wicked appendage shrink and shrivel. "Now, you behave yourself." He pointed at it and spoke sternly. Moments later, he returned, his shirt unbuttoned to his waist, exposing his chest. "Where'd you... oh, there you are." He walked over, thinking that the battle had already been lost. The seductress would end up in his bed that night.

"I thought we could have dessert in front of the fire," Dove suggested softly, seemingly oblivious to the sudden husk in her voice as her eyes travelled down his chest and stomach. Tearing her gaze back to his eyes, she patted the beanbag beside her, tilting her head invitingly.

The covered tray was pushed aside as he lowered himself onto the beanbag. "Dessert can wait."

And wait it did. All night, in fact.


((Adapted from Live Play between Ben and Dove.))

"Oh, you ..." Giggling, Dove covered herself up again, shaking her head at him. "Shoo, and let me get dressed before you get distracted." She waved her hand imperiously at him, flashing a sweet smile that was just for him, and turned to rummage in the drawer for clean underwear, at least.

"Mmphm. Alright, I'll go." He gave a dramatic sigh and slumped his shoulders. "But I won't like it, I'm telling you that right this second, Dove. I don't like it. Not one bit." He stomped and flailed his arms as he left the room.

"Complain later," she suggested with a lilting laugh, ducking out of the sheet and into the clothes she had found. A few minutes later she stepped out into the living room, dressed in a sweater dress, leggings and boots, tying her hair into messy plaits. "So ... am I presentable, or would you prefer to take me out in just the sheet?" she laughed, twirling for him.

Ben was relaxing comfortably in the living room when she strolled in. A low whistle and he stood up. "Wow, you clean up right perty." A playful wink as he slipped into a fake, but deep American southern accent. He poked his elbow out to her and grinned. "May I have the honor of escorting you to the Minit Mart, m'laydee?"

Dove stared at him, completely perplexed by the accent but infinitely amused at the same time. She dropped into a low curtsey and wound her arm through his. "Why, thank you, your lordship, I would be pleased to have you escort me," she giggled softly, pressing against his side.

The day was crisp and cool as they strolled through the city towards a small grocery. He held her hand and pointed out the different houses and tenements in the neighborhood. He seemed to know a little bit of something about everybody that lived near him. "Good to have trash on your neighbors. Keeps them honest with you." He grinned and squeezed her hand. "Oh my Gawd, do you smell that?" As they neared the market, the scent of roasting meat and vegetables wafted through the air.

The man was a positive goldmine of gossip, Dove was quickly deciding, utterly entranced by the near constant stream of information coming from his mouth as they walked together. "I don't think me or Jessie have ... have trash on any of our neighbours," she mused thoughtfully, sniffing the air obediently. And on cue, her stomach rumbled. She laughed, rubbing it shyly.

"Just give me a while, I'll sniff 'em out for you." He grinned as her stomach rumbled. "Come on! We're starving. No time for walking!" With a jerk of her arm, he took off at a medium paced run. "Come on, Dove!"

She squeaked as he jerked on her arm, laughing as her feet skidded a little on the pavement for a moment before she settled into her scurrying run behind him. "You're so goofy, Ben!" she giggled. "The food's going to be there even if we walk!"

"But less of it. Look! Already there are people with plates!" He grinned back at her. His hand flew from hers as his toe stubbed on an uneven cobble and he tumbled.

"Ben - oh!" Dove's hands snapped forward, trying to grab hold and keep him from falling, even as her toes caught on the heel of her other foot, sending her tumbling in the same direction, shrieking with laughter.

His arms flailed as he went down, and he twisted so that his bum took the brunt of the fall. As she tumbled forwards, his arms went out to her. Half to catch her, half to brace for impact. He laughed out loud and called out her name.

Fortunately - or perhaps unfortunately - she landed on top of him, arms going around his neck as her feet finally went out from under her. Sprawled atop him, she couldn't help laughing, even as she scrambled back onto her knees, checking him all over for any injury. "Oh God, Ben, I'm sorry!"

He hugged her tightly when she landed and then let go as she scrambled to her knees. "It's ok, really." He grinned and reached up to smooth her blond hair back down. A coin clinked onto the ground nearby and he laughed out loud once again, calling out a thank you to the person who had dropped it. "Guess we make a good team." He picked up the coin and held it up between them.

Her jaw dropped, unsure whether to be amused or insulted by the coin-thrower, and finally deciding on laughter. "I suppose we do," she agreed. "Maybe I should make my living out of falling over, rather than music, what do you think?" Her hands closed over his, drawing him to his feet as she rose.

He rose with her and pocketed the coin. "Naa, it's safer being a musician. You won't get scraped knees or broken bones." He chuckled and curled an arm around her shoulders. "Watch the faces of the guys that we pass by, Dove. You'll see jealousy. Coz I've got the hottest chick in Rhydin."

Snagging a bottle of maple syrup, he followed her to the table. Sitting the bottle down before her, he settled into a chair. He put his plate down and started eating. It was a nonchalant thing, as if his girl wasn't sitting across from him, mortified. "What? Never lied to get more food or anything else you wanted, before?"

"You practically announced to everyone nearby that I'm pregnant!" she hissed through her fingers, her cheeks still rosy. "That's not a little white lie, that's practically perjury!"

"We're not in court." He grinned across from her, syrup on his chin. "Come on, Dove. Eat some. Your stomach was growling earlier. Please, for me?" He gave her that puppy-dog look once again.

"If it gets back to Jessie that you said that, I'm going to have to buy you a bullet-proof vest," she told him, semi-seriously. She picked up the syrup, pouring a small amount over the pancakes, and picked up her knife and fork, obediently beginning to eat.

He laughed at that and put his knife down long enough to wave dismissively. "I was only joking, Dove. Don't be mad at me. Please?" He screwed up his face, trying to make her laugh. "I'll do cartwheels, right here and now, if you don't smile again."

Ah, if only Jessie were here ... he could have told Ben that making a promise like that was tantamount to signing yourself up for public humiliation. Dove's mouth tightened in an attempt not to smile at the look on Ben's face, her teeth biting down as she blinked sweetly across at him.

So the gauntlet was thrown down. Quickly Ben got to his feet. He took a running start up the column between tables and with a hitched jump, began turning cartwheels. One after the other, four in all, before he stopped. Without catching his breath, he ran back towards her and managed five before he hopped to a stop. The soft gasps of astonishment had quickly turned into a round of applause. Ben bowed politely with a wave of his hand, before he sat again. "Now, how about that smile?"

He got more than a smile. As soon as he'd set off, she'd started giggling, watching him with the same astonishment as the other diners. When he sat down with her once again, she pulled her hand away from her mouth, showing him the wide giggling grin he'd produced. "You're so fearless!"

He absolutely beamed when she revealed not only her smile, but her laugh. Reaching across the table, he gently caressed her cheek. "I'll do anything to keep that beautiful smile right where it belongs."

"Do you always get this affectionate after a seduction?" she asked innocently, rubbing her cheek against his hand as her eyes closed in enjoyment of his touch. Her fingers curled around his, squeezing gently.

"Wasn't I this affectionate before your seduction?" He grinned and his hands gathered his fork and knife, setting to eat, once more. "Or is it that now it's affection and before it was just annoying?" He chuckled around a mouthful of pancake and syrup.

"Maybe I just appreciate it more now I've done all the hard work," she teased him quietly, taking significantly smaller mouthfuls in an attempt not to be finished with her meal before he was.

"That works, too." He swallowed hard and reached for his glass of milk. "Eat up, we've things to do and places to go, people to see." He leaned back as he finished the drink of milk, his own plate only half eaten.

"We do?" Surprised by his sudden enthusiasm for whatever it was he had in mind, Dove began to eat a little faster, but she could only get to half her own plateful before she had to stop, gulping down her own milk to wet her throat. "Where are we going?"

"Shopping. We missed Christmas and New Year, we have to do something soon!" He grinned and rubbed his already full stomach. "Have you given any thought as to what to get Jacob and Jessie?" He arched a slender brow, questioningly.

Her eyes widened. "I almost forgot that," she laughed, sobering quickly enough. "I never know what to get people. I don't like buying socks and things like that, but I never know in advance what I'm going to buy. I just browse and see what comes to me."

"You sound like me. I like to get people things I know they'll use and like." He gave a triumphant smile. Arms lifted over his head in a contented stretch. It was not so nearly cold as it had been earlier, and they were seated in the sunlight. "You know Jessie better than anybody. What do you think I should get him? Can't be too personal. I mean, I hardly know him."

"Jessie's one of the hardest people to buy for in the world," Dove giggled softly, resting her elbows on the table as she leaned forward. "But whatever you get him, I'm sure he'll be thrilled. He's like me when he gets something - it's always fun to have someone give you a present."

He watched her with an affectionate grin. "I'll have to remember that. Shower you with gifts and keep you good and happy. Note to self." He chuckled and reached across the table to gently rub her arm.

"Oh? You weren't expecting me to know what I was doing?" she asked archly, raising a brow with a teasing smile. Her hand slid into his back pocket again. "And after all the work I put into that seduction as well ..." She sighed theatrically. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to prove it wasn't a fluke. Sometime or another."

His brows arched, knowing that answering that particular question was a sticky widget, and was grateful that she had continued. "Sometime or another?" He grinned and pulled them to a gentle stop in the middle of the road. His free arm went around her as he turned to her. "Well that's alright by me, if you never wanted to do that again, with me, I'd just be happy to be holding you and loving you just like this."

Her smile widened as he drew her to him. "So it's blackmail with embarrassment, is it?" she laughed softly, although her cheeks did pink a little as she noticed the curious looks of those walking by.

He bent to kiss her nose. "I was being serious, Dove. I'd never force or coerce you into making love to me." His eyes were gentle and kind and his full mouth a serious line.

The smile on her face faded as he spoke, big blue eyes matching his in affection and solemnity. Her hands stroked against his back as she looked up at him. "Don't you want me?" she asked softly, tilting her head curiously.

He nodded, and then glanced around. "This is one of those private moments." He whispered and hugged her tightly to his chest, picking her up. "Curl your knees." He then proceeded to walk over to a tall oak tree. The bushes around it offered them some modicum of privacy, and he put her down. "God knows, Dove, I've never wanted anybody else more than I've wanted you." His hands moved to her shoulders, then to cup her face between his palms. "But I'd never force myself onto you." His gaze was direct and intent.

She did as she was told, curling to him as he walked and reaching out to push a few of those evergreen branches out of the way. Settled back to her feet, she gazed up at him, lifting her hands to his chest as he spoke. Never in her memory had she ever felt so naked beneath anyone's gaze, and yet so safe in the same sensation. It provoked her to smile, just a little, and whisper tenderly to him. "You'll never have to," she promised. "I want you, so much, I ... I think I'm falling in love with you."

He searched her eyes as she spoke and her words caused his own wide and genuine smile to reflect in her eyes. His shoulders hunched as he bent to kiss her then. It was a slow, soft, lingering kiss that he poured his heart into. When he finally lifted his head, slowly, his eyes were a shade darker. "I'm glad to hear that, Dove. Because I know I'm madly and completely in love with you."

She melted into his kiss, her eyes closing as every confused ounce of what she was feeling radiated from her to him in those long moments. Her fingers clenched in his shirt, holding him to her even as his head lifted. Big blue eyes were stormy as she met his gaze, blushing sweetly under his gaze. "You're making it very difficult for me to behave myself, you know."

He chuckled softly and held her tightly in his arms. "Well, then misbehave all you want. I'm very unashamed, as you have seen. And we've some shopping to do. So if you want to pull me into the changing room in one of the boutiques..." He waggled his brows at her.

"Ben!" Dove exclaimed laughingly, her eyes wide with shock and delight at his playfulness, even if it was in such a public place. But the bushes gave them the illusion of privacy, at the very least, and she found she didn't want to stop herself just yet. Her hands slid up to curl into his hair and pull him down to her, lips melding to his in a kiss that was anything but chaste.

It seemed Benjamin Gates was having an effect both naughty and nice on his little Dove, one that Jessie could not find fault with. Anything that made them all smile was worth the risk that a little hurt might come along to dampen it, and finding someone to love was what he had wanted for his little adopted sister in the first place. Perhaps now he would stop panicking everytime a room they were both in went quiet. Or perhaps not.

((Scene from Live Play with Ben and Dove.))

Dove sighed, sipping her coffee with a slightly dejected expression on her face before she remembered herself. "Can I at least finish my coffee before I have to get dressed, and I have to go out and buy groceries?" she asked childishly, blinking between the pair of them. "And how come we're out of milk? I only bought some yesterday."

Jessie was glad he was sitting behind her because he felt a pang of guilt at her dejected tone of voice. "Of course we can wait that long." He nodded and hugged her from behind. "We're out of milk because there was a stray cat and I put some milk out for it. And then another came. I couldn't let them just starve in the winter." His brows shot up and he nodded. "Plus I've some in my coffee."

Ben reached across the table for Dove's hand. "Hey, we'll meet up later and watch some TV or something at my place, ok?" It was hard, so hard, not to break down and tell her of their plans when she looked so sad like that.

She sighed again and nodded, raising a smile for them both. One thing she'd learnt quite quickly with her partially healed mind was how to convince people she was alright. Squeezing Ben's hand, she leaned back against Jessie. "Okay, okay, I'm going." A kiss to each of them, and she stood up, taking her coffee into the bedroom to drink while she dressed.

Jessie received the kiss to his cheek with a grin and returned the favor. Letting her go, his head moved as his eyes followed her into the bedroom. "I don't think I can keep this up. It's hurting her." He sighed and brought his knee back up to his chest once again.

Ben squeezed her hand, then sat back and watched her leave the room. Turning to Jessie, he leaned forward. "Hold it together, man! It's only for a couple of hours and then she'll be beaming, smiling happy Dove again," he whispered through his teeth. "Don't spoil it, Jessie." He drained the coffee and stood up. "I'll be back. Don't blow it, Jessie. I mean it."

Jessie sighed and closed his eyes, nodding. "Ok, Ben. You'd better be right, or you'll be the one hurting." He opened his eyes and stood up as Ben left the apartment. Now that his partner in crime was gone, how was he possibly going to be able to pull this off?

Dove heard the front door close as she was dressing, dragging a brush brutally through her hair as she always did before haphazardly plaiting it back from her face. Haphazardly, because once it was done, there was more hair hanging around her face than in the plait. Still, she was able to compose herself in order to get rid of some of her disappointment, and when she wandered out to meet Jessie again, it was with a real smile. "Come on, lazypants," she poked at him impishly. "You get dressed too!"

Jessie eyed Dove's attire with raised brows and a smile on his face. She was eclectic, if nothing else. "Alright, Sugarbum. I'm going." He finished his coffee and set the cup into the sink before shuffling lazily off into the bedroom. It was a quick change from pajama pants to jeans and a thick sweater. Pulling on his boots and then his jacket, he emerged a few minutes later. "Come on then, Hodgepodge." He offered his hand as he strode to and out of the door.

Sugarbum, she had no problem with. "Hodgepodge?" she objected, looking down at her plaid dress, striped tights and patterned coat as she slid her hand into his. "You don't like my clothes? I can go change, if you like." Her tone took on a bit of an impish giggle. She'd played this game a couple of times in the past, managing to keep Jessie indoors where it was warm for almost four hours last time.

"Oh no, you look great." He grinned and tugged her down the stairs and towards the market. Jessie was in a bit of a hurry. "It's just that your hair is a hodgepodge of gold, white, yellow and just a tiny bit brown in places. Like you're wearing your own personal coat of many colors. Have you heard that story, before?"

Dove frowned, searching her disjointed memory as she pottered along behind her adopted brother. "Wasn't it a guy who got thrown to the lions, and came back to life, and had a baby with a virgin?" she asked curiously, proving just how screwed up parts of her brain still were.

Struck dumb for a moment, Dove let out a squeal of delight as she stared around herself, her face creased in a childlike smile of total pleasure. "You let me think you'd forgotten, you meanies!" she declared, poking first at Ben and then at Jessie with a laugh. Then she gathered them both into a throttling hug, squeezing tightly. "Thank you!"

Ben and Jessie were both quick about putting the groceries onto the counters beside the sink and refrigerator before being whisked into a group hug. They both laughed and Jessie squirmed away from them, leaving Ben to hold her. "Did it work?" Ben asked as he placed a kiss to her lips. "Do you really think we forgot?"

Jessie had went to grab his camera and start taking pictures. The one of Ben kissing Dove in front of the single candle on the cake was going to be framed later and placed upon his nightstand.

"Are you kidding? I was resigning myself to singing 'Happy Birthday to me' at midnight!" She gave Ben another slap around the arm for good measure, and sighed into his kiss with a happy smile. Then she drew back to look around more intently. "Did you guys make all this yourself?" she asked, turning her eyes to Jessie and making a face for the camera.

Jessie took the picture with a laugh and pocketed the camera. "We did. It was Ben's idea. I'm a horrible artist." He grinned and snatched her from Ben's arms to hug her tightly. "Happy Birthday, Dove." He peppered her face with playful kisses, then turned her loose. "Presents!" He clasped his hands in front of his chest before hurrying off to the bedroom.

Ben grinned at the smack and nuzzled his nose to hers until Jessie snatched her away. "Well, it wasn't completely my idea. Jessie told me when your birthday was and we kind of just brainstormed. You won't hold it against us, will you?"

Giggling as she was snatched away and hugged tightly, Dove snuggled into Jessie's hug, squeezing on until he released her with her face screwed up mockingly under the onslaught of kisses. As he charged away, her face lit up again. "Presents? I've got presents?" She clapped her hands, bouncing on the balls of her feet, and launched herself at Ben, planting a smacker on his cheek. "I've got presents! Did you get me a present? I haven't had a birthday present for years!" And it was true - while they always celebrated birthdays, money had been so tight that presents were out of the question.

Ben couldn't keep from grinning as Dove got more excited with each passing moment. "Oh yeah, I got you a present." He grinned and held her by the waist as Jessie emerged with a large bag in one hand and a medium sized box with the other. "Jessie and I went in together on one, and the rest are from either he or myself."

Jessie put the bag down on the table beside the cake and the box onto the other side of the cake. "The box goes last." He nodded with a smile. "That's from the both of us." Putting his hand into the bag, he came out with a handful of much smaller wrapped boxes and pouches. "I wasn't sure what to get you, so I got some of this, some of that." He held out his hands to her. "Pick a present, any present."

Hands pressed to her mouth, Dove wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or cry. It had been a long time since anyone had been able to go to any sort of real effort for her birthday; the last she could remember that had been anything like this had been with her parents and her sister. But the momentary sadness was swept away by that by now familiar voice, singing to her fractured mind, and she inched forward, her hand hovering over the little pile of presents. "What's in the box?"

"You'll see." Ben answered as he and Jessie exchanged a secret smile. "Here, open this first." He picked up a bright pink package and handed it to her, it squished and made no sounds. Inside were three pairs of thermal socks that stretched up to her thighs.

Just like a child, Dove tore open the paper, backing right into Ben so she could sit on him while she opened her presents. She gestured imperiously with a foot for Jessie to sit down, so she could rest her feet on his leg. As the socks came out, Dove let out a loud giggle, her gaze flicking between the pair of them accusingly. "My feet aren't that cold!"

Ben moved his arms around her when she sat and lifted another present from the table. "Babe, I sleep with you. Your feet are like ice sometimes." He grinned and sat back then, seeing Jessie lift up a small, funny shaped package.

Jessie sat and pulled her feet into his lap. "Oh yes they are!" He pressed his fingers against the top of her foot. "See?" He grinned then picked up the oddly shaped package. Inside were hair clips and ribbons, scrunchies and assorted hair bows.

She knew what it was the moment it was handed to her, the laughter leaving her face in exchange for absolute wonder and awe. "Oh, oh, oh, oh ..."

Hands shaking, she opened the boxes with reverent care, laying each layer aside before lifting the instrument case out and setting it on the table. She only had eyes for what was within that case, running her fingers over the highly polished cherry-wood, the tensioned strings, listening to the sound of an instrument never played but by the one who had made it. She was utterly speechless, her mouth working silently as her eyes grew wide as saucers.

"Oh God, she's going to faint." Ben stood up quickly and put his hands on Dove's shoulders while Jessie held onto her tightly to keep her from falling. "Dove, are you alright?" Ben bent over to peer into her eyes.

Tears sprang to Jessie's eyes, seeing her reaction. He knew how much she treasured her violin and how she had longed for more instruments. He gently placed a kiss to her cheek, without a word to say.

For an instant, the child Dove was back, blinking away tears as she fought to control a very vulnerable moment, her eyes turning first to Ben, then to Jessie. Then the innocence cleared, and she was herself again, swallowing hard to regain her voice. "I ... I don't know what to say," she confessed hoarsely. "I ... thank you doesn't seem like enough."

"Don't thank us, just play for us." Ben sat back and let his hands rest upon hers. "I want to hear you play."

Jessie tensed as he saw the childlike Dove expose herself. "Not again," was mumbled, but under his breath. He didn't want for her to relapse, not after she'd come so far. Relaxing slightly when she returned to her normal self, he nodded in agreement with Ben. "Play something for us, Dove."

She heard Jessie's mumble, turning her head to make sure he saw that she was back. She'd been aware of it, the change occurring, but it had been momentary, a fleeting instant as the adult struggled not to lose control of her emotions. She kissed his cheek softly, rising to her feet to slide into Ben's arms and kiss him as well, lost for words. The viola was picked up lovingly, tuned, and she lifted the bow, considering it for a moment before she drew it across the strings, her eyes closing as she listened to the sound of the instrument.

Jessie, having been caught, lowered his head with a touch of pink to his cheeks. He was ashamed that their past had troubled him so much. With the kiss to his cheek, he simply looked up with a smile. As she began to play, he, too, closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

Ben accepted the kiss, knowing there was some secret undercurrent between Dove and Jessie. But that was something he'd come to expect and accept. There always would be something dark and secret that he did not want to know. When she began to play, he kept his eyes open, hands upon his knees.

The piece was slow, simple, a gentle lament that exposed the beauty of the instrument she had been given. As the last note drew to a close, Dove lowered the bow, hugging the viola to her chest. A slow smile touched her lips. "She's beautiful," she told them both, her voice throbbing with gratitude. "How can I ever thank you?"

Jessie's eyes opened slowly as the last note was drawn, and he smiled. "Just keep doing that, Dove. Keep loving music." He blushed softly and hunched his shoulders. "Ok, that sounded mushy."

Ben held his hands out to her. "Actually, I couldn't have said it better, myself. Watching you play, I can see the love of the music in your face, plain as day. Don't ever stop."

She smiled over at Jessie, reaching over to touch his cheek gently before tweaking his nose playfully. "Don't you go melty on me, Jellybean," she giggled softly, reluctantly laying the viola down in the case once again before cuddling into Ben's arms. She was shaking, but it was a good feeling.

"Me, mushy?" He chuckled and shrugged with a grin. "Guilty as charged." He got up then and went to hug Dove in Ben's lap. "I hope you're having a happy birthday." He whispered as he kissed her cheek. Standing up, then, he moved to put the groceries away.

"The best," she whispered back to Jessie as he moved away, watching him for a moment before snuggling tighter into Ben.

Ben held her tightly. When she began to shiver, he looked down at her curiously. "Cold, babe?"

"I'm alright," she assured her boyfriend. "I just ... I never expected any of this. I'm rather overwhelmed. Any more surprises I should be bracing for?"

"You mean, other than the homemade cake?" He looked dubiously at the oddly shaped cake with it's one candle. "Not sure if it'll poison you or not, but I'll taste it first if you like." He grinned and gently kissed her forehead. "Are you happy, Dove?"

She giggled softly, looking over at the cake with him. "At least now I know where all the milk and eggs went," she laughed, nuzzling under his chin. "I'm very happy, Ben. I promise."

"Nothing." He shook his head and backed the bike out of its space once she was on. Soon they were out on the open road once again and Ben was enjoying the feeling of her arms around him.

Pressed up against his back, Dove was doing more than holding on. She was hugging, nonplussed by his sadness and worrying for him as the bike zipped along the road, blowing her already short skirt indecently high. Thank goodness she'd gone with tights and not stockings.

Ben appreciated the hug for what it was and slowed down a bit. But, they did finally come to the amphitheater and he pulled up in his usual spot. Turning the bike off, he still sat as he took off his helmet. "You're not cold, are you babe?"

She blew one of the many errant strands of hair out of her face as she pulled her own helmet off, leaning against his back with one arm still around him. "No, I'm okay," she murmured, stroking her hand against his chest. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He smiled and leaned back a bit against her. "Come on. I've set up a bit of a picnic on the stage for us. Sandwiches and Coke. I hope you don't mind." He turned his head to grin down at her. "I didn't know if you'd be hungry, after getting the viola. Sometimes emotions get in the way of nourishment."

She kissed the corner of his mouth with a soft smile. "I'm always hungry," she murmured, although the glint in her blue eyes and the roguish curve of her lips suggested she wasn't exactly referring to food.

"I noticed that." His gaze matched hers for lewdness and he chuckled. "Off of the bike then. The food's down there, not up here." He turned to look down at the stage, the small picnic basket and blanket set up neatly upon it.

Hopping off the bike obediently, she laid her helmet down and turned to look down at the stage, smiling when she noticed that he really had laid out a picnic for them. "Race you to the stage?"

Hauling his leg over the bike, he removed his helmet. "Uh, no. You'll fall and hurt yourself." He knew how clumsy she was, especially when excited. "Besides, nothing overly exciting about chicken salad and fruit cups." He chuckled and took her hand. "Besides, today's going to be a lazy day, I think. Just one to sit back and relax and enjoy while we can."

"Silly, I don't hurt myself when I fall over!" she laughed, swinging his arm around her shoulders and sidling up against him. "Are you going to tell me what's upset you, or am I not allowed to know?" She didn't let go of something, especially if she thought perhaps she was being lied to.

"Dove." he sighed and stopped, turning to her. "Let's just enjoy ourselves. I'll tell you soon enough, ok?" He didn't want to ruin her day, but time was drawing near and he couldn't put it off much longer. But a couple of hours, that would be enough. "Come on. Let's eat." He turned again and pulled her along.

She studied his face as he spoke, unhappy that he was keeping something from her but relieved that he intended to tell her. She slid her arm about his waist and walked along next to him, nuzzling close.

He got to the stage and turned to her. His hands went to her waist and he easily hoisted her up and onto the stage before pulling himself up. "Ok, so I've ruined your birthday already." He sighed and moved towards the picnic basket and blanket. Sitting down upon it, he shrugged. "I didn't mean to, but I got a letter from my dad. My mom's sick and I have to go."

((Scene played and posted with permission.))

Jessie was doing the evening's dishes, standing at the sink with his arms delved to the elbows in soap suds. His right foot was pressed against his left thigh in a classic half tree stance. "How'd you like the spaghetti, Dove? I put a little sugar in it to cut the acid." Taking one dripping plate out of the sink after the other to dip into the cool rinse water, then placing them on the drying rack.

Standing beside him, drying up towel in one hand and slippery plate in the other, Dove smiled at him. She looked tired, but then, recently all she seemed to feel was tired. "It was delicious, Jessie, and you know it," she grinned, leaning over to kiss his shoulder affectionately. She turned to put the dry plate back into the cupboard, her bare feet squeaking on the kitchen floor.

"I'm glad." He grinned, picking up a pot and dunking it into the water. "Ok, that's going to need a good soaking, so we're done here for now." His hands dripped warm water as he grabbed for a soft hand towel. "I've got to meet Jacob at the construction site. You'll be ok by yourself for a while?"

She nodded, smiling as she bit her lip. There was an air about her that suggested she had been expecting to be left alone, and had made plans. "I'll be fine, Jelly-bean," she assured him warmly. "I know where the toilet is if I need to throw up, and the doctor gave me all this stuff to read anyway." She rolled her eyes; she'd never thought being pregnant would consist of quite so much academia.

"Good." He grinned, rolling down his sleeves. Giving her a one armed hug and a kiss to her cheek, Jessie gave a gentle squeeze. "I won't be too long. Do you want me to pick something up on my way back?"

"No, it's fine. Take your time." She hugged him warmly, her tone suggesting that her words were something along the lines of a quiet plea rather than a suggestion. If he was paying attention, he'd have noticed that she had changed her clothes before they'd eaten, as though she was expecting someone to drop by and join them.

"Oh, trying to get rid of me?" He laughed softly and let her go. They'd both changed before dinner, Jessie to go out and Dove to receive guests. And Jessie knew exactly who that guest was. "Did you tell him yet?" Jessie walked across the apartment to take his winter coat from a peg near the door.

Following him, Dove's hands smoothed nervously down her jeans, tugging at the hem of the wildly polka-dotted shirt she was wearing. She shook her head guiltily. "No, not yet," she murmured. "I'm going to try tonight, though, I promise."

Pulling on his parka, amber eyes took in her shy and guilty expression. "No pressure and no rush, Dovey. Do it when you feel the time's right." He smiled and stepped forward to give her another hug. Just then the door was knocked on. Jessie stood back and looked down at her. "Sure you're going to be ok?"

Her shoulders rolled awkwardly as she hugged her beloved Jessie again, squeezing tightly as she buried her face in his shoulder for a moment. Then the knock sounded, and she actually trembled for a span before pulling herself together. She nodded to Jessie, managing a tiny smile for him. "I'll be fine," she assured him. That smile grew as she painstakingly constructed the impression she needed to give Ben, that she was overjoyed to see him. Which would be true, she was just also terrified.

Jessie felt the tremble, and looked down at her skeptically. "you know my cell. Don't hesitate to use if it you need to. I should be home in a few hours, ok?" He kissed the top of her head and stood back. "Show time." Turning, he went to the door and opened it to see Ben standing there with a single rose in his hand. Jessie glared at him as he brushed by and out into the night.

Ben smiled at Jessie, but then frowned when he was glared at and not even spoken to. Stepping inside, he saw Dove and that smile returned. He held out the rose to her. "Hey beautiful, what's up with the Jessieman?"

Lifting his leg to straddle the chair, he sat down and took the cutlery from her. "What're you talking about? You're the lady of the house, genetically speaking." Chuckling he watched as the plate was lowered in front of him and he wet his lips. "And you take care of all of us. Even if it's indirectly. You take care of Jessie, too. Which keeps Jacob happy, right?"

"I guess so," she shrugged thoughtfully, sliding into a seat across from him. Her elbows leaned on the table, her chin in her hands as she watched him eat. "Jessie'll be moving in with Jacob when the new house is done," she told him quietly. "He says there'll be a room for me, but I don't think Jacob would want me around. He likes having Jessie to himself." She smiled, only a little jealous.

Ben dug in, fork and spoon at the ready. He spun the spaghetti around the fork tines, in the bowl of the spoon, before bringing it up to his mouth. He ate with vigor. Wiping his chin with a napkin, he frowned slightly at the news. "You can't stay here by yourself, Dove." He didn't know this Jacob guy, but he sounded very selfish. "How can Jessie be with somebody that doesn't accept all of him? You're a part of him, Dove."

"No, I don't mean that I wouldn't be welcome, just ... Jacob wouldn't want the complications that come with me," she tried to explain, hearing herself shying away from her confession once again and groaning. "It's just that ... things are going to be very different in a while, and I don't want anyone to think they have to have room for me, or stick by me, and I'm babbling again." She clapped a hand over her mouth.

Slowly Ben put down the knife and fork. His mouth only slightly open and a raw, hurt emotion in his eyes. "What do you mean, things are going to be different?" His eyes narrowed and the hurt expression went from his eyes to his mouth in the form of a frown. "A.. are you dumping me, Dove?"

Her eyes went wide and filled with tears. She hadn't meant him to think that ... she'd hurt him, and there had been no need! Dove rose abruptly and moved around to curl her arms around his shoulders. "No ... oh God, no, Ben, don't ever think that," she told him fervently, if a little brokenly. "I don't ever want to be away from you, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I love you ..."

Ben sat back and took her into his arms. He felt a rush of relief at her words, but guilt at having made her cry. "Hey, hey, no crying. Please, don't cry baby." he gently smoothed her hair from the crown of her head and placed soft kisses to her cheeks. "No worries, I love you, too."

She slid gratefully onto his lap, hugging him tightly as he reassured her. "I'm sorry, I'm all in a mess at the moment," she sniffed, leaning back to wipe her cheeks dry with her sleeve. "I really didn't mean to hurt you, Ben, I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

Ben kissed the tip of her nose and held her loosely in his lap. "What's wrong, beautiful? I know you have your moments, but you're all frazzled tonight. What's going on?"

Dove swallowed, looking at him worriedly. She was terrified that he was going to just up and leave her, but Jessie was right, Ben had a right to know what she was going through. "I ..." she began, stopped, and tried again. "You know I've been a bit sick the last couple of weeks, right? Well, I went to the doctor about it, and I know what's causing it now." She faltered, not sure she wanted to take the plunge.

Ben nodded and it was his turn to look worried. When she didn't come out and say what exactly was wrong, he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "Whatever it is, I'm here, Dove. I promise." His eyes closed as he braced himself for the worst.

She closed her eyes, curling to him tightly as though this could be the last time he ever held her this way, breathing him in to memorise him once again. But she couldn't put it off any longer. She swallowed again, and whispered, "I'm pregnant."

Ben had been expecting something else. Anything else. When she uttered the words, he became completely still. "What?" He wasn't sure if he'd heard her correctly and had to be sure.

She felt him tense and go still, and her heart lurched painfully. She should make it easier for him to leave, she thought heartbrokenly, gently pulling herself out of his grasp and rising, turning her back to hide the tears that had returned. "I'm pregnant," she repeated herself softly, hurrying to add, "I know it's unexpected, and if you're angry with me, say so. Please."

His eyes closed and arms went around to hold Dove close. "Shhh, shh.." He sighed softly and pressed her head to hos shoulder. "Quiet, now, baby. Nothing to worry about, ok? I'm here, and that's where I'll always be. Regardless of who else comes along."

She slid down onto her knees in front of him, dropping her arms to curl around his waist as her face buried itself against his neck. "I love you so much," she whispered fervently to him. "I don't know what would happen without you, Ben."

"I love you too." He kissed her cheek softly. "Well, you probably wouldn't be pregnant right now." Ben chuckled softly and squeezed her tight. "I am happy, Dove. Very, very happy."

She leaned back, the smile on her face loving and grateful all at once. "I'm glad you are," she smiled, biting her lip. "But, Ben, what are we going to do? There's so much to learn, and things a baby needs, and ... it's all so much!"

"Well, we've got how much more time?" Instinctively, one hand went to her stomach. "We'll just do this, one step at a time. And we'll learn it together, ok?" His smile was bright and he gazed at her lovingly.

"The doctor said I'm about five weeks," she said, frowning as she recalled the conversation that had ended in her being referred to another doctor. Her eyes dropped to look at his hand at her waist, and she smiled shyly, glancing up at him. "Together," she promised, nodding as her hand slid over his.

He saw the frown and canted his head, curiously. "What's the matter?" His hands were now gently patting her back and rubbing her stomach.

Her frown cleared as she shook her head. "It's nothing," she assured him. "I have to go and see another doctor, and he's going to look after me, I think. I really don't know what's going on, to be honest."

"What's wrong with the doctor you saw?" If it concerned her, it concerned Ben. He continued his petting, even being unaware of doing it.

"He's not an obste ... ostrit ... osberitch ... a baby doctor," she gave up trying to say a word that was totally unfamiliar to her, looking down at his hand as he rubbed her stomach with a smile. "Apparently this other one is."

"Oh, ok." he nodded slowly and then his stomach growled in protest to the single bite he'd taken earlier. "Well, do you have an appointment with this other doctor?" Getting up, he pulled her into his lap so he could eat and pet at the same time.

She nodded, settling in his lap and taking over the fork from him to feed bites of pasta to him as he ate. "I have to see somebody called Doctor Ryan on Tuesday morning," she told him, wiping sauce off his chin. "Will you come with me?"

Happily being fed, he nodded with a grin. "A team of wild horses couldn't keep me away, baby." His hands now free, the one roamed over her back, the other firmly planted on her stomach. "We're having a baby!"

Dove giggled at his happy response, lifting yet more of his meal to his lips as his hands warmed her. "We are," she smiled back, finally relaxing more than she had done since that first terrifying visit to her doctor over a week before. "And he's going to be gorgeous, just like his daddy."

"Oh no." he spoke around a mouthful of pasta. "Beautiful, talented and as graceful as her mommy." He chuckled, knowing just how graceful Dove could be. "We've got to come up with some cool names. Something she'll be proud to bear for all of her life."

"I know," she murmured lovingly to him, her hand stroking the back of his head as he held onto her. "It doesn't seem real, even to me, and I'm the one living with the symptoms." She laughed softly. "You'll be a wonderful father, I know it."

"I will do my best." He lifted his head and laughed a sniffle. "God, Dove. This is so incredible. I want to sing and laugh and cry and just hold you." He buried his face into her shoulder and hugged her tightly.

She smiled, lifting her eyes to the ceiling in happiness. Even without really knowing how she felt about the situation, it was easy to get caught up in Ben's joy. Everything he felt was so pure and unstudied. "You can," she assured him through that smile. "You can do it all, anything you want."

"All at the same time?" He laughed and lifted his head to look into her eyes. "It's just.. excuse me for a minute." He slid her out of his lap and got up. Running to the door, he tugged it open and disappeared.

Slid to her feet, she blinked, startled by his sudden disappearance. "Ben?" Confused, Dove moved to the door, leaning on the frame as her arms wrapped about herself, scant protection against the cold. "Ben?" she called again, peering into the darkness.

Ben reappeared, breathless, flushed and laughing; a few minutes later. "Sorry, just had to burn some energy." He had sprinted to the corner and back, twice. "Did you miss me?" He was cold and flushed when he took her into his arms on the doorstep.

She laughed as he came back into view, still confused but relieved that he had come back. On the doorstep, she slid her arms about him affectionately, smoothing her warm hands over his chilled cheeks. "Of course I did," she insisted. "Like the night misses the moon."

"The night misses the moon? But the moon's almost always here." He laughed and picked her up, carrying her into the apartment. "Wow, my mom's going to freak out when I tell her she's going to b... Dove, we've got to get married."

She was in the midst of giggling as he hoisted her up and walked her back into the apartment, one hand reaching out to push the door closed behind him. "Excuse me?" she asked suddenly, blinking in surprise. "Did you just say 'married'?"

He nodded and put her on her feet. "Yes, we have to get married. Should have done that first, but what's done is done." He looked into her face, afraid she'd say no.

She stared at him. Of course they should have been married first, but after all her experiences, remembered or not, Dove had half been of the opinion that there was no danger of any children. Evidently she'd been wrong. "Aren't you supposed to ask my father, or the person who stands in place of my father first?" she asked, the views of her era very much imprinted on her mind.

"Well, that's a nice touch, but hardly necessary. You're your own person." he reached for her arms. "Say you'll marry me, Dove. I was going to ask you on Valentine's day, but this makes it more important that we do it sooner."

"Sooner? But it's Valentine's Day in just a day or two," she laughed. "You want to marry me sooner?" She couldn't help laughing at his sudden urgency. After all, it wasn't as though she was suddenly going to grow and drop a baby overnight. "Of course I'll marry you, Ben, but why the rush?"

"Because my parents will crucify me." he blew out a sigh of relief. "Can't do much this late at night, but tomorrow we can go get the license, blood tests, be married by the end of the week. Say the baby's premature when it comes." He began pacing the floor, his mind whirling.

She watched him worry, her arms wrapping about herself once again comfortingly. To go from carefree to pregnant to married in the space of two weeks? She'd heard of scandals like that back at home, but she'd never really believed they were true. Was this how such stories happened? "Jessie will be pleased," she offered encouragingly. "He hasn't stopped talking about you doing right by me."

Ben stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. "Jessie can be a witness, Jacob, too? What do you think? Jessie can be your maid of honor." he chuckled, bad jokes were what he was best at during times of stress.

Her hands lifted to her mouth, giggles erupting then as the whole thing suddenly looked quite absurd. "Oh, Ben!" she laughed, leaning back against the wall as her shoulders shook. "Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack!"

He couldn't help himself. It was a natural progression with him when faced with a stressful situation. "No, I won't have a heart attack, but my parents are going to flip!" he began to pace again. "Not that I really care what they think, you know. Just saying. They're going to flip and have me made into a eunuch. They're going to have my balls snipped. Last thing they told me is to not make them grandparents."

The door slamming open made Dove jump, her eyes snapping wide as her head turned towards Jessie. The blast of cold air he let in had her huddling closer to Ben. "Jessie, you promised you wouldn't hit him," she started, waggling a finger at her self-adopted brother.

"Hit him?" Jessie hung up his coat and gave her a "have you told him yet?" look. "Why owuld I hit him?" His eyes went to Ben, looking him up and down and narrowing. Jessie shifted his weight from both feet to just on his right foot, hand dangling down, fingers twitching.

Ben gasped as the cold hit him for the third time that night. Quickly, he turned to see Jessie storming in. He didn't say a word, only moved to shut the door as he got glared at again. "Dude, it's alright, she told me." He held out his hands, placatingly.

"And we're getting married!" she finished the announcement, scurrying between them. Dove being Dove, she figured that putting herself in the way would prevent any violence. Never mind the fact that either man could lift her aside as easily as they could a paper bag.

"Yeah!" he put his hands on Dove's shoulders and nodded firmly. "By the end of the week, it'll be final." he gently squeezed Dove's shoulders.

Jessie's brows shot skywards at both of their announcements. "Oh, really?" There was something unsettling about all of this and Jessie was sure he smelled a rat. By his standards, Ben was doing the right thing. But with the way Dove jumped to his defense, there was something definitely not right. He eyed them both, suspiciously, arms moving to fold over his chest. "And how much thought have either of you put into this?"

Dove didn't really have an answer for that. She nestled back against Ben, chewing on a fingernail as she looked up at Jessie. She knew she wanted to be with Ben, to be his wife, how much more thought did she need to put into that?

Ben curled his arms around her and bent to put his chin atop her head. "How much thought really needs to go into it, Jessie? When you love somebody, there shouldn't have to be any thought at all. It's just the way it is. I love Dove, and nothing you, nor anybody else says is going to change that. And she loves me, Jessie. Don't make her choose between the two of us."

Jessie bit his lips and nodded, tearing his gaze from the two of them and slowly looking towards the ground. That was the gist of it, wasn't it? He'd put himself in a position where he felt like he had to choose between Jacob and Dove; and he truly did not like the feeling of it one bit. "Yes, you're right." He turned and walked towards the kitchen. The empty plate was picked up from the table, along with cutlery.

Dove was just not ready in any sense of the word for this. She listened to Ben as he spoke to Jessie, watched as her brother seemed to fold in on himself, and felt a little bit of her heart break. Jessie was always going to be a part of her, no matter what anyone said or did. Now Ben was a part of her, too, and she didn't like feeling as though she had to split herself between them. But Jessie seemed to think she had chosen between them, when she hadn't. If she went to him, Ben would be hurt; if she didn't, Jessie would be hurt. And she couldn't cope with that.

"I'm sorry." The little phrase was very small in the stillness, almost lost in her sudden flight to her bedroom and the very clear click of the lock.

Ben was the type of neurotic that usually overreacted and over did just about everything. So, as the weeks slowly turned into months and Dove's belly began to swell, Ben put forth most of his time and effort on making the most perfect nursery in the world for thier child. He had insisted upon doing everything himself and wanted the theme of the nursery to combine the child's parent's talents. What better than a circus theme, he thought? Clowns and trapeze artists, and there was the music box minauture fairground organ that had been put on order. He was hoping that Dove would be surprised. He had his earbuds in and listening to music as he painted a clown upon the wall. Humming softly, he canted his way this way and that. "Such a funny little clown, aren't you?"

For herself the slow appearance of Dove's maternal state had gently informed her employers that she was now in line for maternity leave as and when, as well as a little forebearance in her day-to-day routine. It was just as well she had managed to join the RhyDin Phil, putting her out of the way of nightclubs and bars and private receptions filled with noisy people. It wasn't much of a bump, in her opinion, but then, it was only just big enough to be called a bump now, and her doctor was insisting it was going to get bigger by the day from here on in. Jessie kept stroking it, and Ben apparently had some big surprise waiting for it that he was still working on. She could smell the paint, of course, but he wouldn't let her in the room. Hence she was sitting on the couch, music open in front of her, practising the smooth flow of her fingertips over the frets of her viola even as she inspected her bow.

Ben smiled and put down the paint brush. His face was flecked with bright colors: blue, red, yellow, green, brown, violet. The boy looked as if he had technicolored freckles with bright splotches of green and orange smeared across his nose and along side of his neck. Stepping back, he turned slowly to inspect the four walls. It was garish and loud and everything that Ben was. A slow smile crossed his face as he moved towards the door. It was time for the unveiling. "Dove, can you come here for a moment, please?" Ben ran to the windows and threw them open, to help ventilate the room. He turned and waited for Dove, the curtains blowing gently by his sides.

Tearing her gaze away from the music as Ben called to her, Dove looked over at the door in surprise. Big blue eyes widened as a cheerful smile appeared on her face at being invited into his secret. "Of course," she called back, laying her viola lovingly aside and manuvering herself to her feet. "What is it?" After a moment's thought, she did the button up on her skirt again before moving over to the doorway.

"I need your opinion," he called from the windowed corner of the room. "Come look and tell me what you think!" Ben was definitely excited and a bit nervous. What if Dove hated it? He began to wring his hands.

"Okay, I'm coming," she laughed back, stepping through the doorway. As her eyes adjusted to the riot of colour and shapes all around her, Dove stared, her mouth half-open in amazement as she looked around. The room was ... familiar, somehow, in a way that her brother would no doubt be panicked to find out, but it was a good feeling. Her grip tightened on the doorframe as her eyes turned back to Ben. "Did you do all this?" she asked in a wondering tone of voice.

Ben wasn't sure what to make of her reaction. There wasn't a smile, so his nerves grew. "Uh, yeah. Is it ok? I mean, if you don't like it, we can paint primer over and start again?" Ben chewed on his lower lip and waited for her.

"Oh, no, it's ... Ben, it's wonderful!" The smile he wanted to see wasn't long in arriving as she advanced across the room to embrace him warmly, hugging him tight for a long moment as she continued to look around. "I just ... you really did it all by yourself? You're so talented!"

"It is?" He hugged her in return and then stepped back so she could look around. "Over here, in this corner, I painted the carousel because I bought a carousel horse to put there. Not many kids have their own carousel horse," he added proudly.

She gave him her patented innocent Dove face. "Do babies come out knowing how to ride horses then?"

He stopped and whipped his head around at her question to give her a completely blank look. "I don't know. Do they?"

That innocent look moved to stare down at her 25-week bump in dismay. "How much bigger am I going to get?" she asked in a far imitation of distress. "I don't fit my clothes as it is!"

"Oh no..." Ben was at her side in a heartbeat and was holding her close. He hated to see anything other than a smile or utter contentment on Dove's face. "I'm not sure, Dovey. But no matter how big you get, I'll always love you. Do you want to go shopping?" Just as random and scattered, it was the way Ben thought.

Her dismayed face turned smiling again as she crowed triumphantly. "I got you!" she declared merrily, bouncing up to kiss his cheek. "I got you good! Babies can't ride horses," she added. "I know because they don't make helmets in baby-size." Nodding cheerfully, she squeezed his hand. "We don't need to go shopping, do we?"

"Oh you!" He grabbed her about the waist and tickled like a mad man, giggling the whole while. "Thought we'd buy you some of those maternity clothes from Omar the Tentmaker." He laughed out loud and ran out of the room.

Squealing with laughter, she batted at his hands wildly, missing completely as her fiance ran like hellfire for cover. "Hey!" she yelled after him. "That's not fair, Benjamin Gates, I can't run as fast as you!" Moving back out into the hallway, she laid little hands on her hips, peering around in search of him.

"Boo!" He jumped out of a closet in the hall as she passed. "Got you!" He curled his arms around her waist and pulled her backwards against his chest. Hands went to the baby bump as his head went to her shoulder. "The most beautiful girl in the world and she's having my baby." Oh yes, contentment and pride shown in his eyes.

Still giggling, Dove returned to the couch to put away her music before sliding her feet into her sandals. While she waited for Ben to wash himself clean, she took a serious look in the mirror, inspecting her appearance thoughtfully. "They're not that tight," she murmured to herself, smoothing her hand over the stretched fabric of her shirt.

Ben emerged from the bathroom, pink faced from the scrubbing, his hair spiked up from the water and the effort to scrub his face clean. "Ready, Freddy?" He walked over to the door and held it open for her. His smile turned to a frown as Jessie nearly fell through the door. "Hey, there's my brother!" Ben stepped back and waited for Jessie to right himself.

Jessie did right himself and glanced between Dove and Ben. "Did I come at a bad time?"

"My name's not - Jessie!" Caught in mid-frown, Dove's expression cleared to a delighted smile, and she threw herself at Jessie with a cry of pleasure. "We were going out to get me fat clothes, want to come?"

Jessie caught her in the hug and shook his head. "You're not fat. Who said you're fat?" He gave an accusing glare to Ben before looking down at Dove.

Ben shook his head quickly. "Oh no I didn't. Don't give me that look!"

Dove giggled yet again, squeezing Jessie warmly. "Don't be silly, nobody calls me fat but me," she assured him, leaning back to glance at Ben. "Oh! You have to see the secret! He can see the secret, can't he?" she added hopefully to Ben, though she was already pulling Jessie toward the nursery room eagerly.

"Of course he can." Ben shut the door slowly and turned to follow them. He eyed Jessie and Dove from behind with a grin and a shake of the head. When together the two were nigh inseperable. If it had been anybody other than Jessie, there would be a jealousy issue. As it were, Ben was comfortable having Dove's brother over anytime that Jessie wanted to visit.

Jessie got tugged and he went along with Dove quite willingly. "What surprise? Dove, you're cutting off my circulation!" There was a tiny laugh as he was pulled along the corridor. "What surprise? Is it Jacob in a thong?"

"No, it's a secret," Dove was gushing happily as she pushed open the door to the little room, dragging Jessie inside. "He kept it a big secret from me and only showed me today, and isn't it wonderful? He did it all himself, and he never said a word, and look, he painted clowns and clouds and circus thingys, and look at the fairground organ!" She seemed to have grown several inches out of sheer pride in Ben during this little speech.

Jessie got pulled into the room and his jaw dropped. So many colors and items to see. He slowly turned in a circle, just to see everything. "Good God, your child is going to have technicolor nightmares!" He smiled good naturedly, a smile that didn't quite make its way to his eyes. "It's wonderful, Ben, you really out did yourself.

Ben stood in the doorway, flushed to the roots and hands behind his back. "It wasn't much, mostly stencils and some paint." he played down his accomplishment.

"It's amazing and you have every right to be really proud of yourself," Dove insisted stoutly, reaching out to squeeze Ben's hand tightly. Her eyes met his, and flickered ever so slightly to Jessie before returning to her fiance, a silent indication that her brother probably needed to vent. For someone who had so many problems of the mental kind herself, Dove was remarkably quick on the uptake when it came to Jessie.

As she took his hand, he reached up and gently moved the hair behind her ear with the other hand. "Well, I have an amazing woman as a muse. There's nothing I can't do." He smiled as he followed her gaze to Jessie and back. A slight nod and he let her go. "I'll go get us something to drink. Juice alright?" He didn't wait for an answer and was out into the hallway in seconds flat.

Jessie had caught the glances and shook his head. "Am I that transparent?"

Dove smiled gratefully to Ben as he made his exit, wondering again how she'd managed to get someone quite so perfect. She looked up at Jessie. "Only to me," she assured him with a soft smile, moving to hug him more gently. "Still haven't heard anything from Jacob, then?"

"Ah!" It was lucky that Dove caught that blade and pinned it, as Ben was going to spin around with it in his hand. "Ok, guys, ok ok ok!" he laughed as he got a double smooch. "Now that the queens of the house have honored the king, would you like something to eat?" He chuckled and shook his head. "I hope we have a boy."

"Boy or girl, Jessie'll still get overprotective and take it out clubbing when it's old enough," Dove giggled, insinuating her arms around Ben's waist as she leaned into him.

"Got that right." Jessie smooched Ben's cheek once more before wandering towards the middle of the kitchen. "And you better believe that child will not be homophobic!"

Ben just grinned at their antics and slid his free arm around Dove's waist. "I need a boy. The estrogen is way too high in here right now." Double waggle of his brows as he turned his head and kissed Dove softly.

"Hey, I can be all manly," Dove offered merrily. "Except you don't like it when I try and do things that boys do. Like watching the football and lifting heavy stuff. One, because I don't understand it, and two, because I'm too little."

"You are too little. And if you'd sit still long enough for us to catch a game of football, then I could explain it to ya." Ben grinned down at her and kissed her once again. "Besides, I like just how feminine and tough that you are. You are perfect."

"Nah, Jessie's perfect," she countered, nipping a little kiss against Ben's jaw with a grin. "Oh, but you haven't seen his bottom, have you?" Big blue eyes fixed on Jessie with a wickedly cheeky smile. "Drop 'em, Angelico."

"Oh no!" Ben tried to cover his eyes, but was too late. Jessie was more than happy to expose his nicely rounded body and finely sculpted lower abs by dropping trow. Of course, he kept his back to the both of them. No need to show off the entire package. He clenched his buttcheeks, moaned and then pulled his pants back up.

Dove, of course, creased up with giggles, only too delighted that Jessie and Ben were comfortable enough around one another to be playful with her when the mood struck. And, of course, the horrified look on Ben's face as Jessie showed off his lilywhite arse was going to be a treasured memory for a very long time.

The laughing and loving in the kitchen made Jessie feel leaps and bounds better. When he had straightened his clothing, he turned to the pair with a grin on his face. Gone was the woebegone eyes and expression. "I need to go. I think I can face lunch with Jacob now." He moved towards them both and gathered them both into a group hug. "I love you two." Leaning his head back he gave them each a peck to the cheek. "Be good, ok?" Pulling back, he nabbed a piece of chopped beet to munch on as he went to the kitchen door to let himself out.

Ben shook his head and slid his hand over his face. "You two are so perverted." Then he was gathered into the group hug and he softened visibly. "Love you too, bro. Go easy and give him a rogerin' for me, eh?"

Dove, for her part, snuggled into the group hug with every sign of enjoyment, pleased that her little family had meshed so well, even if the distant cousin that was Jacob was still causing a few peripheral problems. She smiled, kissing Jessie's cheek. "You'll be fine," she assured him warmly, "and I'm always good. He's the bad one." Her head jerked towards Ben with a grin, hoping she'd distracted one and all from Ben's parting words.

Jessie winked, pointed at Ben and laughed. "You got it." Then he was gone.

Ben turned his hugging arms onto Dove and slowly lifted her from her feet. "You are a very naughty girl." His chin jut so he could kiss her nose. "It's why I love you so much. That and the tuna."