Ben struggles with asking his dad for permission to go to New York with his girlfriend. Ben/Denny. 3rd Person POV. Set in the AU of Strange Brew in Season 3.

Disclaimer: I do not own Falling Skies.


Chapter 4

The next night Denny stands outside the front door of the Mason household, surprisingly nervous as she knocks on the door. She can count the times she's been at the Mason's for more than five minutes on one hand. Only one time had ever graced the hour mark.

She recognizes Matt as the door swings open, a Nintendo DS in his hands. He smirks at Denny. There is a knowing look in his eyes as he lets her inside.

"Ben! Your girlfriend is here!" Matt yells almost directly on her ear as he shuts the door.

She glares down at him, "Are you trying to rupture my eardrum?"

"Probably," Ben says as he comes down the stairs, his lips lift in a reassuring smile that tells her he can read the thoughts on her face. Matt has plopped back onto the couch by the time Ben takes her hand in his. A squeeze and a peck on the cheek later he pulls her down the hall to the kitchen.

Rebecca Mason is the picture of domestic motherhood when they enter the kitchen, though Denny knows she is actually an elementary school administrator. There's an apron covering her sweater and jeans, her hair is pulled back into a bun. When she looks up her eyes give Denny a once over.

Never in her life has Denny wished she had worn something pastel before this moment. Her leather jacket feels a little ratty and she is overly aware of how scuffed up her boots are and the paint on her jeans. She squeezes Ben's hand again.

The room echoes with silence until Rebecca smiles, "Would you like something to drink Denny?" His mother gives Ben an expectant look.

"Sure," Denny smiles back at her and Ben grabs them both a soda from the fridge.

"Dinner won't be ready for another half hour and your father isn't home yet, so why don't you two go wait in the other room," Rebecca tells them as she turns back to the food in front of her. Ben wastes no time in taking Denny from the room. They're upstairs in what Denny is sure is record time.

Plopping back onto Ben's bed she groans, "Why can't your parents be as easy as mine?"

"That's a long list," Ben says as he sits next to her. Denny rolls her eyes, sitting up to take her jacket off. "You shouldn't be nervous, you've met them before," Ben reasons as they sit back on the bed together.

The words are met with an eye roll, "Waving from my car and saying hi when I pick you up hardly count as meeting them." Ben shrugs before turning on his side to look down at her.

"In that case," he starts, "I don't think I've ever met your dad."

Denny snorts, "By that definition I haven't really met him either."

They laugh until Denny arches up to kiss him lightly on the lips. Ben deepens the kiss before she can fall back down. His fingers slip under her back, pushing her close to him as he covers her body with his own. She wraps her arms around his neck as he presses her head down into the pillow.

Ben pulls his lips away and enjoys the shutter of Denny's body beneath him as he begins kissing along her jaw. He rarely takes the initiative in their relationship, they'd probably still be dancing around each other if she hadn't kissed him after a math test, but he's noticed that when he does Denny tended to enjoy it more.

~FS~FS~FS~

"Is this like the time you said five minutes on our anniversary last year or the time you said five minutes on my birthday?" Rebecca teased her husband over the phone as she placed the casserole in the oven to keep warm. She laughed at his typical response, "Alright, see you in a bit, love you."

She left the kitchen to gather the boys and Denny. Matt was enamored by one of his games so she ruffled his hair, "Dinner in five, put up the game." Matt whined, but did as he was told, placing the handheld on the coffee table, "Where are your brothers?"

"Hal's in his room chatting with Drew," Matt said without pause, "And Ben's with Denny in his room." Rebecca kissed the top of his head before moving up the stairs. Matt was always the best at deciphering his brothers' behavior. She did not look forward to the days when she had to figure out what he was up to.

As expected Hal was exactly where Matt said, "Almost dinner, wrap it up." Hal nodded absently and Rebecca knew she'd be back in five minutes to tell him again. The neighboring door was cracked up according to the rule when having opposite-genders in bedrooms.

Rebecca expected to see the young couple sitting on the bed or discussing something over Ben's computer. What she peaked through the door was not on her radar of possibilities. She stepped away from the door with her mouth agape. Taking several steps towards the stairs.

Ben had been on top of Denny, his hands beneath her shirt and his lips in places she had not wanted to see. The scene reminded her far too much of the times she had walked in on Hal and Rita in his room.

"Hey," Tom's voice dragged from her dazed thoughts. He smiled at her before kissing her softly, "You ok?" He looked concerned, but she shrugged it off.

"Fine," Rebecca composed herself, "Can you drag Ben and Hal from their rooms? I'm going to get the table ready."

"Denny here yet?" Tom asked as she walked back towards the stairs.

"Oh yeah," she replied with a deep breath, causing Tom to raise an eyebrow. He shook his head and moved to Ben's door first. He was usually the easiest to peel from his computer for food. He didn't bother knocking as he pushed the door open and leaned in, "Dinner."

The two teens jumped in what Tom thought an amusing manner. Denny started tugging on her shirt and running fingers through her hair anxiously, as if trying to erase the evidence. Tom merely smirked at his middle son as he watched him breathing heavily by the bed.

"Two minute warning," Tom said before ducking out to grab Hal. When he walked into the kitchen he kissed his wife on the cheeks. Rebecca rolled her eyes at the amusement in his.