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After a family dinner with his mom, he slipped out with the excuse of getting home to Angie. Instead though, he headed towards Becca's. He knew of course, that it wouldn't be hard to catch him in his lies, but, maybe somewhere deep down, he wanted to be found out. Ben was by no means, a weak man, but he hated hurting the women in his life. He could never imagine hurting Becca, or his mother, even Angie, despite their… issues.
Pulling his bike to a stop in the driveway or Becca's house he paused and sighed. He could see himself living here with her. HE could see their little girl, the dog, the whole cherry pie life. But, certain things kept that from happening.
With a shake of his head he climbed off his bike and headed for the walkway leading towards the door. There was another car in the driveway, one he didn't recognize. With a slight twinge of worry, he continued up the steps and knocked on the door, an odd thing for him to do here.
A second later the door opened and Becca smiled. "Why'd you knock?"
He motioned towards the car. "I didn't want to… ya know."
She nodded and grabbed his hand, pulling him inside. In the living room her youngest brother, still older than her by two years sat on the couch. Gabe held a striking resemblance to his sister and mother; they were all blonde and green eyed. He wasn't as tall as his other brother's and father by any means either, at five nine he was the shortest male in his family.
He smiled and stood up, "Hey Ben."
Ben smiled wide and moved greet him. "Gabe, I didn't know you were coming to town."
HE nodded, motioning to his sister. "Babies are a pretty big deal in our family, and with it being about that time… I was not going to miss meeting my niece or nephew."
Ben grinned and wrapped an arm around Becca. Her family, the Garrett's, all knew about them. It was mainly for the fact that her family didn't believe in secrets, They were an open and forgiving bunch of people. Ben almost spent as many nights at Garrett family dinners and he did his own mothers.
He sighed and nodded, "It's good that you're here, man."
The next morning Ben headed off to the shop, leaving a half-finished crib in the nursery floor. He'd worked on it that morning for an hour, having coffee with Gabe while Becca sipped tea. He'd wanted to stay, spend some much needed time with Becca. He didn't want to miss anything that might happen.
With a sigh he wiped his hands on a shop rag, heading off towards the lot where Half-Sack watched Jax pull out a chainsaw for the deer sticking out of the front window of a car. HE was glad not to be the prospect.
Shortly after Ben left more of the Garrett's arrived, their mother Eileen, their brother's Luke and Noah, Luke's family, his wife Hannah and their two children Natalie who had just turned five and Danny who was three. The house felt alive and busy.
Becca stood with her mother and sister in law in the nursery. She had just finished explaining that Ben was going to finish the crib.
"Becky, you guys are going to be good parents, I know it."
She smiled at Hannah, who was like the sister she never had. "Thanks, Han."
Eileen though, sighed. "Speaking of Ben, how is this going to work? Is he only showing up to parent when he can?"
Becca gave her mom a look. She knew the older woman liked Ben, and treated him like one of her own, but what kind of mother would she be if she didn't question their plans? To be honest, Becca didn't even know how to answer her.
"Mom, everything's going to be okay. I know it will."
Eileen nodded and gave her a half hug. "I just worry about my daughter and my grandbaby."
Noah showed up then, in all his charm. "Ladies, could I have a minute?"
Hannah and Eileen nodded, Eileen giving her son a pat on the shoulder, and left the room. HE smirked and moved to his sister's side, "Alright, close your eyes and hold out your hands."
She did, smiling. "Okay."
He placed a box in her hands and nodded. "Open."
The box was wrapped in newspaper, the comics, and had a stick on box attached to the top. She grinned and looked up at her brother. "Can I open it?"
He smiled, holding back a laugh. "Well, my little nephew or niece can't, so yeah."
Tearing off the paper she discarded it and took off the top of the box. Inside was another box. "You shouldn't have."
He laughed and took the box from her, removing the second box and opening it. Inside was a lamp. He grinned and set it on the dresser, plugging it into the wall. After flicking on the switch it lit up and slowly began spinning the shapes of carousel horses.
Becca smiled, "It's great, Noah."
He smiled and nodded, "I saw it and thought about the one mom got for you, remember? It got lost or something."
"Lost?" Giving her brother a hug she smiled, "If I remember right, and I do, some boys were playing and knocked it off a table."
He shrugged, biting back a smile and turned off the lamp. "Yeah well, accidents happen."
The two moved out into the rest of the house, joining the rest of the family in the kitchen, where their dad had joined in. "Hey dad."
"Hey, yourself. How's my grandbaby?"
Later that day, Ben found himself in the hospital, watching through a window at his nephew. Abel Teller, born too soon with a hole in his stomach and a heart defect. It made him anxious. His brother's had the same heart defects, his own child could too. HE was immediately worried about Becca, and the baby, and his mom and his nephew and everyone.
Running his hand over his face he sighed.
"What's the matter, baby?"
HE turned to see his mother, giving him the worried mom face. "Worried about the little guy."
She nodded, "Me too." Casting a side glance at him she nudged him. "You look like you're not sleeping."
He nodded, "I sleep, just… not well. I stay up a lot anymore, worried about all the shit that's happening."
She turned fully now, facing him completely. "What are you not saying, Benjamin?"
He kept his eyes on Abel and sighed. "Just… there's things I'm doing that, maybe I shouldn't be. I'm a liar, and have a wife I don't know if I love anymore and… there's other people now, people that I have to think about all the time. People that are depending on me."
Gemma watched her son, his jaw clenched and he let out a long breath. "I gotta go."
She caught him by his sleeve, making him meet her eyes. "Ben, I know you, you were a good kid who grew into a good man. Don't worry so much about Angie, or what she thinks. I want you happy, and right now… you look miserable."
He nodded and she continued. "If you find a way to be happy, do it."
He nodded and hugged his mom, "Thanks, ma."
Gemma nodded and watched her son go, his hands in his pockets and his head up. There had always been a certain way she treated Ben, the way she talked to Ben. It was different that it was with Jax. Ben was her baby, and the relationship they had was different. She couldn't help but think that he was keeping things from her now though, things that he wouldn't have years ago. She could only hope it wasn't going to ruin him.
Ben showed up at his house, the house he shared with Angie, and quietly slipped inside. It was late, and this usually meant Angie was asleep. Taking his cut off he laid it on the back of the couch, kicking off his shoes and leaving them there too.
A creak came from the back of the house and he froze. Thinking on instinct, he moved quietly to the hall closet and grabbed his baseball bat, not even bothering with his gun. If someone was breaking into his house, they weren't getting off that easy.
Quietly moving through the hall he paused at the door briefly, listening. The sounds were not that of an intruder.
Opening the door to the master bedroom he stared wide eyed. Angie was under some guy, he thought he looked older from behind.
Ben groaned and shook his head, earning shocked looks from both Angie and the man, he now recognized him, Ricky Cruz, a fellow teacher at the high school. Angie nearly screamed, clutching sheets to her chest and Ricky jumped, his eyes landing on the bat in Ben's hands.
Before Ben could register what was happening, Ricky moved, grabbing the lamp next to him on the dresser and slamming it into Ben's head. It was lights out.