A/N: 3 reviews gets you another chapter sooner! Love!

Benjamin, Lucy, Albert and I went to the beach one day when the weather was nice. Lucy's baby belly was starting to show and Benjamin couldn't be happier. We ate lunch on the pier and took pictures together by the water. After awhile we found ourselves sitting together on a picnic blanket in the sand.

"Would you like to go for a walk, Lucy?" Benjamin asked.

"Actually, I'm feeling a bit sleepy, Ben. I would like to just rest awhile." She replied.

"How about you, Nell?" He asked. I nodded. "Albert?"

"I'll pass." He grunted.

"Well it's just you and me." I said to Benjamin. I saw Lucy shoot a look between me and Benjamin as we stood.

We walked along the shoreline, not daring to touch the water because I knew it'd be cold. We were silent for a long time, just walking and enjoying each others presence.

"So me and Lucy were thinking of names." Benjamin said, breaking the silence. "For the baby." He added.

"And?"

"Lucy wants it to be Benjamin if it's a boy."

"You don't?" He shook his head. "Well personally, I love the name. Always have liked the name Benjamin." I said.

"I'd rather name him something like Peter. I've always like Peter." He said. I nodded.

"I like it too. What about a girl's name?"

"Lucy wants Dianne. I like Marie." He said. "But Lucy is almost certain it will be a boy."

"How does she know?"

"Mother's instinct I suppose." I nodded in understanding.

"We've wandered quite a bit." He said a few minutes later. I turned to look and he was right.

"We should head back." I said. "It's getting late." He nodded we started off in the other direction.

We grew silent again and I longed for our walk to last a million years more. I saw Albert and Lucy come into view and slowed my pace a bit, Benjamin following my lead. I smiled at the idea that possibly, he hated rejoining the others as much as I did.

"You know what name I have always liked?" I broke the silence this time.

"Hmm?"

"Johanna."

Just then we'd reached the others and we began picking everything up and getting ready to leave.

~X~

Back at the shop, Albert and I began arguing.

"It's rather suspicious, Eleanor." He said angrily.

"How?"

"You're always together!"

"We're friends, Albert!"

"That's not the way it seems to me!"

"Well you need to open your eyes, Albert! Nothing is happening between us!" I yelled.

"Do not raise your voice at me, Eleanor!"

"Don't accuse me of things that never happened!" I screamed. With that he hit me again, harder this time, sending me flying backward into the coffee table, knocking over a glass vase and picture frame which both shattered on the floor.

I heard loud footsteps and a door slam, but my head was spinning too much to comprehend what was happening. When my vision came back and my brain steadied enough to figure out what was happening I saw Benjamin standing in the doorway.

"Do not lay another hand on her!" Was thrown somewhere in the conversation but my ears were ringing too loud to hear most of it. Benjamin and Albert yelled back and forth until Albert went to take a swing and Benjamin's face. I heard myself scream before I even knew what was happening. Benjamin caught Albert's hand in his and shoved him back against the wall. I was surprised at Benjamin's strength.

"Don't. Touch her. Again." Benjamin said before letting Albert go. Albert growled at Benjamin and stormed off into the bedroom. I gained enough strength to stand as Benjamin came over to me.

"Are you alright?" He asked. I nodded. He shook his head. "No you aren't." He walked me into the shop, my head still spinning from all that happened. He sat me down in a chair and pressed a damp towel to my left temple which stung a bit.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled. He laughed a little.

"For what?" He asked, removing the towel from my head. I could see there was blood on it.

"For him." I said. He shook his head.

"Don't be sorry. I'm sorry." I raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you the first time." I lifted my hand up and touched his cheek. His skin was warm, soothing.

"I don't want to leave you alone, tonight." He said. I cocked my head to the side a bit. "If he gets angry again," He trailed off. I smiled, rubbing my thumb against his cheek.

"I'll be okay." I said. "I'll sleep in the parlor."

He wiped the rest of the blood of my head and off my cheek. He swept up the glass of the floor and threw it away, refusing any of my help. And he sat on the chair while I laid on the couch.

"You don't have to stay, Ben." I said.

"Just until you fall sleep." He replied. I smiled. We grew silent and I closed my eyes.

"Ben?" I said after a few minutes.

"Hmm?"

"I love you." I said quietly. I heard him laugh a bit.

"I love you too, Nell." With that I fell asleep.

I was in love with someone who could possibly love me back.