Most of you will know my comfort zone of Dragon age but i fell for this series quite hard, I also felt for Ben on a 'all Brits together' trip but i always wanted to know what his story was. So many unexplained factors. Plus he put himself through so many windows i thought he should have a happy ending. Thank you Patricia Briggs who owns all this wonderous world, forgive me for introducing a new player.

As usual reviews always welcomed so that i may grow.

CHAPTER ONE

"I hate American snow"

"What? Why? "

"It's just so…I don't know, Hallmark isn't it as you colonials might say? I hate having to screw up my eyes with its awful shine. Snow in London is grey and something that is removed immediately!"

"Who hates snow? I mean you have to be demented to not like something so clean and …"

Wiping the sudden snowball from her face Mercy began to spit out the slushes of ice that accompanied it. Ben stood a few metres away with a smug grin on his face.

Ben's hair flickered in the light wind that tripped over the rolling hills of snow beneath their boots. He looked washed out slightly and his hair had become longer and darker but she put that down to the human version of a winters coat. The beginnings of a beard was slightly more concerning though, it wasn't a bad set of bristles but it seemed to have spawned through some kind of melancholy and although she still kept a watchful eye on Ben after the demon had finished with him last Summer, he still had glum-like moments that he was entitled to. She continued to study his features as she cleared the wet snow from her face. He looked a little pleased with himself but an undercurrent of anger filled the air which would explain the slightly more harder edge the snowball he had hit her with. She didn't mind that in fact she was grateful that he constantly refused to treat her with kid gloves.

"Keep looking at me like that sweet-heart and I'm telling Daddy" He mocked

"You wish. By the way that wasn't all snow"

"That's why girls shouldn't play with the big boys, whinger"

"Whinger? What does that even mean?"

"We can't do that with our snow back home" Ben continued rousing her from her amateur attempt to examine her moody companion. "It's all mush and grey. In fact we are not even sure its snow. By the time we get through buggering it with grit we are complaining about the chaos it all causes. You would think that by now we would have acclimatised to the dull and beautiful weather that graces our little island."

"Do you miss home?"

"Do you?"

"What does that mean?"

"Is this your Home, Mercy?"

"Yep. It is. It ain't great but I was done with roaming a long time ago. And you know what they say home is where the heart is" She fought the blush that was creeping up. Disgusted with herself she looked down at her feet almost missing Bens whispering answer

"Then yes…I do"

"Do I sense a loved one left behind?"

"You may be silent now Thompson, crafty witch"

"Yeah right. Come on, what's up with you lately?"

"You and Adam make me sick, that enough?"

Actually it was, mercy felt guilty and Ben noticed.

"I woke up this morning feeling sorry for myself, don't know why but meh...shit happens"

Ben wiped his hands on his sweater and took a shrug clearly ending the conversation. After a few moments he took a sniff in the air and the contempt for nature made his eyes roll to the heavens.

"I hate it…so white and…god it's awful"

"Okay okay we are done appreciating the scenery. Thank you for following me up here and refusing to give me at least five seconds of alone time. Thank you for spoiling what I have always enjoyed about this time of year and thank you for making me grateful for all the things I previously hated about my life. Yours is far worse."

"Hey lady, I'm just doing what I'm told. Those the rules, plus we can't go back. I don't want to be anywhere near Adams whilst the newbie is there. It's so bloody tedious and I have to be nice...I hate that. Plus she will get the lecture about not being left alone with me whilst I'm not there which is always a bonus. Then I can get back and be all 'GRRR show us your pants' and they can be all 'Ben..back off' and finally….my reputation…is intact"

"Are you for real?"

"One hundred per cent cynic, Mercy you know me, besides I want to degrade myself a little further and play fetch. I have a great stick you can play with!"

"Pervert"

"That would be me"

The unlikely pair laughed the conversation off both relieved that the tension it almost brought had disappeared. They spent a few more hours in the meadows at the back of the reservation before returning to the main road and Mercy's waiting rabbit. She had attempted to get back sooner but Ben had locked his jaws around the stick that he had attached himself to and even though she was curious to get back she didn't want to spoil his fun. She never used to be as comfortable in Ben's presence as she is now and she never saw it coming but the two had struck up an unlikely and silent friendship over the last year. He had saved her life unquestionably on so many occasions that she felt he deserved the break she now gave him. Ben was one misunderstood wolf and she would flatten anyone who did it again. Saying that Ben loved the black sheep tag and played it to the max, she understood this and was happy to play along to a point making it clear when it was just the two of them he left the slime ball at home. She had a feeling there was a hell of a lot more to this messed up wolf and would wait patiently for him to share it.

As the rabbit purred to life Ben continued his low key grumblings about the vehicle of mercy's choice. Speaking over him she resumed the conversation about the packs new guest.

"I wonder what's she is like."

"A werewolf?" he grunted

"Brilliant. I mean will she be a Honey or an Aurielle? Pretty or brainy? Come on Ben you have to be curious about who is going to be sharing your breakfast table surely?"

"Not my table"

"You know what I mean. I wonder if she is unmated. Christ that will be trouble for Adam, don't you think? There are a few of you not mated and its coming up to winters night. The prom for wolves" She laughed out loud throwing her head back whilst being impressed by her own lame joke. Ben was not. "Laugh it up puppy. It's not like that. " he bit back "You wouldn't understand, although it might affect you this year now that…well you know now that your tripping the light fan-bloody-tastic, god mated wolves suck. You won't catch me jumping around a field at night literally chasing tail. And when you do…I'm going to piss myself laughing. Anyway I was told she isn't sticking around"

"Huh? She is going Lone?"

"Of a sorts. She is just passing by asking for permission to be here, we won't see her again bloody student. Checking in and kissing arse I reckon."

"Arrrrse" Mercy repeated mimicking Ben's accent.

"Mature"

"That's me" She answered mocking his earlier conversation winner "Student eh?"

"Eyes on the road, Thompson. Shit, women! You drive like a blind monkey playing tennis" The car swerved and Mercy laughed. Ben didn't.

The journey home continued with the same show, Mercy stopped the car twice to hit Ben for suggesting he should drive and Ben demanded she pull over so he could walk home each time she said no. When they finally arrived back at Mercy's trailer he leapt out as though he hadn't seen land for a year.

"Thank god, you drive like shit"

"Go home Ben your grumpy git"

"You have been spending too much time together for you to even know what a 'git' is Mercy Thompson" came a voice from behind them. Samuel had got home just before them and they failed to hear the pounding of his boots being clashed together to dislodge any snow. Mercy turned to him making a big show to dismiss Ben. "I still don't but everyone else does since it's the one thing most commonly used to describe the crabby old wolf. Have you been to the house yet?"

"Adams?"

Ben groaned and Mercy grumbled both sharing a secret smile as they did so.

"Yes Adams house, what is it with you men today?"

"I have and I have just got back." Sam slowly looked up and over Mercy locking eyes with the wolf who had now decided he didn't want to go home after all. "You two are back early; you were due back in an hour or so. Does Adam know your back?" Mercy gawped at him in response. Samuel seemed to pause as if studying the options for his next move very carefully. Awkward was settling down on the small space the three occupied. "Ben, why don't you stay for a while and have something hot to drink. By the looks of you, you have been up and down a cold field."

Something was up. Mercy quirked an eyebrow and Ben stiffened. The dominant magic flowing off of Samuel now became a little intoxicating and Mercy gawped as Ben did as he was told. Nothing more was said but the 'leave it Mercy' look was loud and clear.

Ben walked easily past her and Sam and up the creaky metal steps that led to her front door. He flapped with the door and eventually let himself in. He called out to the two still outside that he intended to relief himself in her bathroom, but of course being Ben it was not in so polite a phrasing.

"Come on. You know all the stories about him are crap; he can go back to the house I think it's unfair to keep this tag on him don't you? He has proved himself ten times around me and Jesse."

"Leave it mercy. It's a bit bigger than that and he can hear us"

"Sam…"

"Mercy please, it won't do him any favours to go back now. Trust me"

She didn't know why she was putting up a fight; a hot drink would be welcomed and besides her jeans were soaked through at the bottom. She made her way past Samuel who if she didn't know better was visibly relieved that she was giving up this particular argument, which seemed to be the theme of the day.

"So much secrecy, what is she the president's daughter or something?"

"Something like that although I'm sure she won't thank you for the comparison. Inside, Mercy there is a strong wind blowing up and all kinds of things come with it"

"Like what?"

"Scents. She has been here since this morning and we have been working hard to make this go smoothly…for Ben. That's why you picked him up at his place this morning."

They both listened as the sound of whistling came from inside Mercy's trailer. Ben was making himself audibly at home and whooped loudly with delight as he found the daytime soaps.

"He can't go back yet mercy; just keep him busy for an hour or so. Trust me on this." Sam whispered low enough that my ears could pick it up. His eyes spoke louder. She just couldn't let it go her interest had been piqued.

"Oh for the heavens…The new wolf is a Marrok's daughter, newly turned."

"Still don't think Ben is a problem. Especially if she is newly turned and we don't think she needs to stay here."

The frustration led him to grab her arm and pull her further away and closer.

"Think about it Mercy. She is not my sister so which possible Marrok do you think she might be a cub of, eh?" His welsh accent grew thicker when he was agitated and by the quick glance over his shoulder Mercy could tell that he was nervous. "Da says he isn't to know and you know what…I agree, don't push it. You don't know a lot of things about Ben and if you care about him as much as you seem to show then leave this now. You really will get eaten one day, Mercy Thompson, too inquisitive by half!"

"London?" she shook her head "I still don't see why"

"It's Lizzie isn't it?" Ben's voice came slow and quiet over the wind. Mercy couldn't see him but looked into Sam's eyes that were screwed tight. He opened them and glared at Mercy who pulled her arms out of Sam's now relaxed grasp and stood to the side. Ben stood on the top step with one shaking hand on the battered wooden banister that led down to the icy ground. He thrust his head upwards as if scanning the airwaves for signs and clues to reassure his senses. With a tearful like restraint he brought his attention back to Mercy and Sam, particularly Sam.

"Answer me, stop protecting your own. Do you know what it has been like?"

Sam turned to look at Mercy gently as she looked on "Yes, Ben...I do"

"Ben, careful" Mercy warned him. She hadn't liked the sound of his voice. It sounded cold, quiet and distant. Sam took a step towards him and Ben obliged the closing distance by walking forward. It all started to make sense, the reason why Sam was insistent on it being dropped and Bens change in place and loss of control"

"Go inside. Nothing good can come of you going to the house. You made this decision, the right decision so you should stick to it. She will be gone soon."

"How long since she was turned?"

"Ben…"

"I am going to the house now, Sam"

"You're not listening to me Ben"

"YOUR NOT LISTENING TO ME SAM!" the anger rang out furiously. And for a moment it felt like the roles had been reversed. Mercy had never seen Ben this wound up not even when he confronted Adam on her behalf. He started to undress on the porch and for a moment the whole thing became surreal. Sam started to undress in a rush as if this was a race. For someone on the outside Mercy thought the while thing was a little too macho but the creeping feeling that she should have left it alone began to grow in her stomach.

Seeing a Werewolf transform was not the prettiest of sights in a normal instance but to see two try when angry and rushed was even worse. By the time Mercy had made it back to the Rabbit Sam had changed and was charging at a naked Ben. He brought his arm up to block Sam's attempt at getting any closer to his face, we all knew Sam didn't intend to harm but frighten Ben, it didn't work.

With a quick move Sam swiped his giant paw to the side of Bens head and knocked him out cold. He stayed put over him as if to shield him from the cold and when he was convinced that Ben was truly out for the count he turned his gaze on her and snarled.

"Yeah…I should have dropped it, I get it. But how was I to know she was his mate?"