Welcome!
I don't know if anyone (still) waited for this, but this is finally the sequel to Their son (and How they got there). You can expect... at least ten chapters, I think.
I don't get around to write much at the moment, but I've written a few very small scenes for this by now and thought I could upload the first chapter. I plan to only upload about once a month – if I manage to write the next chapter quicker, I of course will also upload quicker.
I'm talking about 'chapters' but it will again be more like one shots, like How they got there. They also are spread over a lot of years.
There are two wholly different scenes in this chapter. The second one mentions Beck having dropped out of college; in the next chapter I will actually show how that happened, so all the talks etc.
Yeah, okay. I hope you'll like this! :) Have fun reading!
Beck and Jade have graduated from high school, are 18 years old, will start college very soon and Beck's parents actually are paying for a three room apartment for them. It's not big. Each room is quite small, so there's not much room to move around. But it's better than the RV or Jade's room in her mother's house. And they do have three rooms.
They've searched for a two room apartment at first but Beck's parents then said that that little rent more wouldn't hurt and that they should get a room on their own too. So, they now have an own bedroom for themselves, a room with the kitchen and for living and then of course a bedroom for their son.
Benjamin is almost two and a half years old now and has been really proud to get his very first own room, not counting his room in Beck's parents' house where he has never slept until now. They allowed him to pick out everything by himself (of course only giving him options, but he insists on deciding on his own by now which is why they let him choose between their options). Jade's mother pretty much payed for all the new furniture in the house, as she said she and Beck's parents have agreed for her not to have to pay for the rent at all, which is why she at least wants to pay for the new furniture and alike.
She and Jade's father also pay for Jade's living costs and half of Benji's (excluding the rent) and for Jade's college tuition. Beck's parents of course pay for his tuition and his and the rest of Benji's living cost.
Beck and Jade tried not to buy too many things for the new home. Of course they had to get a few things they didn't need before like appliances for the kitchen. But they had couches and a chair for example from Jade's old room and Beck's RV and took those with them though they don't fit perfectly together.
Mainly, they bought a new bed for the both of them as they loved the thought of officially having a bed that actually fits both of them, instead of always having to press into each other. And in this apartment, they have the room for that.
Otherwise, they bought a lot of new stuff for Benji, just because his room was supposed to look perfect. It does now.
With the move, he changed out of the crib into a big boy bed. That also made him very proud.
Jade and Beck aren't kidding themselves though. They guess it's very possible that Benji won't be able to sleep in that bed for some time. It will be the very first time, he sleeps alone in a room at all. Until now, he always slept in a room with Beck and/or Jade – or the very few times their parents gave them a whole night off, he stayed with them in a room as the situation was unclear enough for him then, so nobody wanted him to have to sleep in a room alone in those situations.
Now, everything also is a little unclear. They have just moved and he doesn't feel at home here yet. To now have him sleep in his very own room... as he's already a bad sleeper (though he does sleep most nights through by now)... Not to mention that Jade and Beck also love to sleep closely to each other and they could understand if their child, especially still so young, would feel the same.
They have always counted on him coming into their bed throughout the nights during the first weeks. He's supposed to at least fall asleep in his new bed though, which is why they lied there with him for a long time yesterday. He was exhausted after that day full of moving, but psyched about it all the same, which is why it still took some time for him to fall asleep. Beck and Jade stayed with him, sang for him softly and then talked between each other while Benji drifted off to sleep.
They still unpacked a little afterwards, before they went to bed themselves.
Now, Beck wakes up and is mildly surprised that it's already morning, which means that Benji didn't wake him once during night. And the little boy also doesn't lie in bed with them now.
Instead, it's only Beck and Jade, in the middle of the bed, pressed closely together, as if they don't have that much more room in the bed.
He's spooning Jade and just now feels her fingers softly stroking his hand. So, she's awake already, but is still enjoying the quiet morning, instead of getting up and seeing if Benji's okay or anything else.
Well, they did get used to enjoy every quiet moment. But Beck guesses Jade has to feel a little anxious about Benji still being okay. Beck does too. He apparently is ready to sleep in his own room now. But it's weird to not directly see him, first thing in the morning – or to know that their parents or the other one is taking care of him at that very moment.
Beck moves his own hand to take Jade's into his, which makes her realize that he woke up. She turns around in his arms, onto her back. Their eyes meet, and somewhere is a content smile, then Beck leans over her and they kiss.
"Good morning," he whispers while she puts one of her hands in his neck, to pull him into another kiss.
"Mh," she just answers into the kiss.
They keep kissing for a while, then they softly break apart once more and he quietly says: "This is perfect. Finally waking up in our own home."
"Mhm. Finally living without our parents," she agrees.
"Having so much room just for us..." he adds though yes, they apparently have slept tonight closely pressed together so that even each their old beds would have been enough. They wouldn't have needed more room in any sense.
But as they kiss again, there is suddenly a voice anyway: "Mommy? Daddy?"
Benji has walked into the room, which door was open for him to definitely be able to get to them throughout the night. Now, he walks up to the bed as they both turn into his direction, Beck fully sitting up, while Jade remains lying.
"And for him," Jade says with a smirk.
Beck also has to grin, as he leans over to the side of the bed and picks Benji up.
"Yes, baby?" he asks while he puts him down between himself and Jade, Jade still lying down.
"You're awake," the little boy notices.
"Uhu," Jade answers. "You are, too. Did you sleep well in your new room?"
The boy nods earnestly in response, before Beck asks: "Wanna stay in our bed for a while and cuddle?"
"Cuddle," the boy repeats, obviously liking that idea.
Beck and Jade help him to get under the blanket between them and he lies down and lets himself get pulled close by Jade.
Beck undoubtedly would've liked some more time alone with Jade, enjoying waking up together, the warmth and the comfort between them, just the two of them.
But he also loves Benji being with them now, him included in this calm moment in their new apartment. Him being able to enjoy this moment too. And him making it possibly even warmer and more comforting for Beck.
Beck smiles as he first drops a kiss on Benji's cheek, then leans further over him and Jade again to kiss her once more.
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Beck has to film on location in Miami for the series, in which he's a regular. Which is totally awesome. But which also means that he isn't there when their group of friends all sleep over at Cat's parents' house. Cat's parents are pretty much still gone with her brother most of the time, but they come back every now and then for a while. That makes Cat stay at her parents' house with easy access to her grandmother and other relatives though – and her friends of course.
Cat invited all of them to a sleepover tonight, from Friday to Saturday. Beck was supposed to come back Thursday evening but the filming schedule changed after his arrival in Miami last Sunday. He will only come back on Saturday around 11am. Which means that he will still join the group, but only at that time for some more hours. Robbie and Andre each planned something else for that Saturday evening, so they don't have time all day. But at least for a little bit longer.
Benji of course is invited as well; he's as much part of their group as any of them.
Benji's four years old by now, most of the friends are twenty years old. Beck has dropped out of college recently while the rest of the friends are still going, with Tori and Andre also starting each their careers at the same time. In a few months time, Beck and Jade want to marry, after being engaged for two years.
When Tori arrives that late Friday afternoon, after a meeting with her agent, Jade and Benji are already at Cat's, as is Robbie.
They are playing a game of pairs when Tori comes in. Jade and Robbie aren't really invested and are more talking than playing, while Cat's totally into it. Benji is too; of course he is as they otherwise wouldn't have to play.
They have to consider Benji more and more, the older he gets. It also happens more than in school that Jade and Beck don't take him with them when they meet up with their friends. Benji has his own mind by now and needs to be entertained much more specific. He needs attention and not just with the friends smiling lots at him or alike, but by everyone of the group watching what he does if they are all there.
Benji's able to play on his own, but if they are all together he understands it more like a playdate and needs to be involved too, unlike when he wasn't even two and they could sit him somewhere with a few toys and otherwise could play poker and talk about their own lives.
It's different, which doesn't mean the friends aren't always happy to have Benji with them as well. They do want to see him regularly, love him all so damn much.
To keep Benji occupied this time, they decided, before meeting up, to watch Disney movies after dinner. Benji won't seperate from the group to go to sleep, they know that. But he's able to fall asleep while watching movies, so they will put on something harmless. Tori likes Disney movies very much, just like Cat, Robbie and Andre, so they don't have a problem with watching those.
And yeah, they will be able to talk, even if Benji will watch the movies. And they can talk even more, as soon as Benji'll have fallen asleep.
That's how they do it. They cook dinner together after Andre has arrived as well and Tori already tells a little about her meeting with her agent.
They also talk all through dinner, then they are still sitting together for a while, before they all get into their pajamas and set up on the floor of Cat's living room.
Benji also already brushes his teeth, before they all pick their spots for the night.
"Lie next to me," Cat begs the little boy, as she finally puts down her own sleeping bag in a comfortable distance to the TV.
Benji scrunches up his face though and finally steps between Andre and Robbie, who have decided on spots first.
Cat pouts. "Don't you want to cuddle with me?"
Well, yeah, if Benji lies or sits down next to Cat, he always gets cuddled. And lately, he hasn't been too into it anymore. He has phases where he loves to hug and kiss all of them, but other days he's not interested in it at all. Today, he hasn't even hugged Tori or Andre in greeting, and Tori guesses Cat and Robbie neither. Which is kind of sad because he's just huggable, but well... he's growing up and he's Jade's son.
Benji looks over to Cat, looks into her sad face, and Tori wonders if he will change his mind, will go to Cat and let her cuddle him if she wants to so badly.
But then, there's Jade, harshly: "Don't guilt him into doing it." She turns to her son: "Lie down whereever you want, Benji."
He nods and takes his place between the two men, where there's still more than enough room for him. Which also leaves Jade alone. Jade who loves to cuddle with both Beck and Benji, even if she barely lets anyone else touch her. Tori wonders if she also doesn't really like Benji becoming this... independent.
Well... But Cat definitely seems to see that she has made a mistake. "Sorry," she hastily says, to both Jade and Benji, but neither cares much.
.
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Benji falls asleep when the second movie has just started. The rest of the group stays up a whole lot longer, talking and laughing with each other.
When Tori wakes up again, it's morning. She turns around and dozes off for another few minutes, before she opens her eyes to notice that everyone else is still in bed too, possibly even asleep. Except for Cat who comes back in that very moment. Probably, she was in the bathroom.
Tori closes her eyes back up, only to hear some new noises and soft steps. And suddenly, Jade's voice, quiet though: "Where're you going?"
Tori opens her eyes again and notices that Benji's tiptoeing through the room. "Bathroom," he whispers, not stopping, and Jade makes a small noise, then turns, her eyes closed.
Tori doesn't know why Jade has checked where her son was going. It's not like she would notice at home when he would get up and use the bathroom or anything. But Tori guesses she doesn't want Benji to just walk around in Cat's house without anyone watching.
Benji's back two minutes later, before Tori has dozed off again.
Tori opens her eyes just in time to see the boy lie down next to his mother instead of in his own bed. Jade doesn't even open her eyes. She raises her blanket as soon as she feels him and lets him slide in with her. Tori can see how Benji snuggles his face into Jade's chest and how she lies one of her hands on the back of his head, protectively, stroking through his hair. Her lips touch the top of his head in a silent, gentle kiss.
With a smile, Tori closes her eyes again.
It's not too much later that there's some yawning and one after another they decide that they can also stay awake now. There are open eyes meeting when you turn around, until Tori sees Robbie sitting up, also yawning.
"Morning," she says with a smile when their eyes meet and he repeats the greeting with Cat following up and then Andre too.
Benji and Jade also make noises that sound surprisingly alike, before Benji's the one to start the morning with a whole coherent sentence: "Is Daddy gonna be here soon?"
Only that makes Jade open her eyes, looking at the boy that has pulled back slightly during the morning greetings. "I think it's still gonna take a while. What time is it?"
That question's directed into the room and the time shoots out of Cat, which must mean she must've looked at her watch right before, as she definitely isn't now: "9:05."
"Then he'll be here in about two hours," Jade says and like she always does, talking to Benji, she puts that time into perspective: "So we still can get ready for the day and eat something and maybe even play a little."
Tori can not really see Benji's face but he must look somewhat sad about it, at least, Jade strokes through his hair, as she whispers: "I know you miss him. He's gonna be home real soon."
Tori always likes hearing Jade talk to Benji like this, with such an unusual softness in her voice. But she gets shortly distracted. Cat, who has sat up by now, almost looks likes she has to bite her tongue while she listens to mother and son talking.
Robbie and Andre have listened as well and Robbie now says: "It's really cool that your dad is filming in Miami though."
It's to cheer Benji up. The boy turns around to look at Robbie. Andre promptly agrees: "That's awesome. I bet he will have a lot to tell when he comes back."
"Beck and a lot to tell?" Tori asks with a smile. No, obviously he will talk about it, especially when they ask. But he won't blab on about it on his own. Unlike Cat would. Or Tori. Or Andre or Robbie.
They start joking about it and phantasizing about what Beck might have to tell. After a while, Cat gets up and leaves, probably for the bathroom, taking her phone with her.
She comes back only shortly later and Tori can barely believe her eyes: Beck is with her. Cat has her hands over her mouth as if she has to keep herself from screaming out of happiness, but her grin is still very visible behind her hands.
Beck's grinning just as much though. And Andre, Robbie and Tori have all seen him, while Jade and Benji are mostly turned to him with their backs. Beck promptly puts his finger on his lips as he notices the situation himself. It's a damn good thing that they're all good actors and are quick to not let it show in their faces that Beck has just walked in.
Jade also is a little distracted as she's just commenting on their conversation, looking at the back of Benji's head as the comment was meant for him, smirking.
The boy now also starts to answer, turns around to her, while Beck silently walks up to them. Benji immediately sees him as he turns.
"Daddy!"
He's up and jumping over Jade. Beck has arrived right next to Jade by now and goes down on his knees. Benji's in his arms before Jade can comprehend what's going on.
Then, she's sitting up too and turning around in the same move and she doesn't even get up some more in any sense, just slides over and also hugs Beck tight, just like her son.
Even though Tori can only see her mostly from behind, she notices the big smile in Jade's face, that Jade tries to hide in Beck's neck.
Tori has never seen these three reunite after a few days apart, but it makes her heart ache a little. It's beautiful. Also when Jade breaks apart again from Beck for a little to then kiss him. Also when they kiss for too long with Benji still tight in Beck's arms.
Tori shares a short look with Andre, like they do sometimes when the couple in their group doesn't seem to be able to stop kissing. It's a little awkward at times, but their eye rolls about it are good-natured.
Robbie and Cat meanwhile don't look away at all, seem extremely happy to witness this reuinion. Well, Tori and Andre are too.
Though not as happy as the small family itself.
Benji's the first to speak again: "Mommy said you wouldn't come this early."
That's also the thing that makes Beck's and Jade's lips finally break apart again. Jade even draws back a little more but her hand is still in Beck's neck and his still in her back.
With his other hand he strokes through Benji's hair, after the boy now also draws back, both his hands in Beck's shirt though.
Beck looks a little gleeful. "I tricked your mommy. I only told Cat that I might make it this early to surprise you two."
So Cat knew and kept her mouth shut? Now, she bursts out: "And it was so hard not so say anything. I hope you're not angry, Benji!"
Benji looks over to her in all his innocence: "Why should I be?"
"I am," Jade dryly cuts through but she barely manages her usual harsh tone.
Cat pouts. "Please, forgive me!"
"No," Jade decides, which makes Cat pout even more.
While Beck smiles softly at Jade, suddenly saying: "I missed you."
She has to smile again and kisses him once more. And she murmurs something that resembles an "I missed you too".
"We both missed you so much, Daddy," Benji knows to report.
Beck and Jade still kiss for a moment longer but after that, Beck finally takes his hand from Jade to pull Benji in a new full hug, answering: "I did too. I'm so happy to see you again!"
Only after that, he finally shares greetings with his friends and they all get up, start making breakfast, getting dressed, all the while asking Beck about his experience. He does tell a little but also asks about their evening and what else is going on in each their lives. For the first time, Tori isn't too sure Beck is listening all that much to their answers whenever one of them gets into it. He seems way to focused on fiancée and son, who keep close to him for the rest of their get-together.