Little Moments: It Runs in the Family
Chapter 25: Baby It's You
Disclaimer: I still don't own anything related to OTH.
A/N: Like I said at the bottom Author's Note of the last chapter, I'm jumping ahead with this one. The babies are about five months in the first two sections and ten months in the last. We'll get to see how things have changed with the babies and with Sawyer and Ben. Enjoy!
OTHOTH
The sound of baseballs slapping into leather gloves was one of life's great joys. At least for Ben Trammell it was. Baseball had always been his first love, a humble companion throughout childhood. While the Tennessean warmed up for the annual Coast Guard charity game, Ben felt like a kid again. It was the simple rhythm of two players going back and forth, the snap of his wrist, and the pain in his palm from one of Graham's fastball's that made Ben grin ear to ear. His catcher's chest protector rode up as he tossed the ball back to his best friend, and the March sunshine speckled pools of perspiration across his forehead.
Wiping his brow, Ben caught Graham's toss. "So what do you think?"
"What do I think?" Clapping his hand against his old baseball glove, Graham readied himself for the ball. "I think you're taking too long. She's gonna marry you if you ever get around to asking."
Taking a deep breath, Ben reared back and threw a bullet to Graham. "I just keep thinking she's going to say no."
"She won't. She's not. Just stop thinking about it and do it. You don't even have to make a big deal about the proposal. I tried that and ended up screwing everything up."
Ben had heard the story a million times about how Graham dropped Charlotte's engagement ring in the sand. Graham, however, had the uncanny ability to make a bad situation work out. Knowing Ben's luck, he'd be the one to drop a ring and never be able to find it again. He caught the baseball and flicked it back into the air before throwing it back. "Sawyer's birthday is tomorrow. I could do it then."
Shrugging his shoulders, Graham nodded. "Yeah...but that might be kinda cliché. Sawyer probably wouldn't..."
Hearing his best friend's hesitation, Ben's eyes went wide. "See...this is exactly why I haven't done it. Every scenario I come up with sucks and doesn't sound very...Sawyerish."
"Then do something musically. Play her a song on the guitar and then ask her to marry you. She'd have to go for that."
"Yeah...I guess." Ben threw the ball back to Graham and took a deep breath. This whole proposal thing would be a lot easier if he didn't care so much. Ben wanted perfection. He wanted Sawyer to be blown away. He wanted to do enough so it would be certain that she'd say yes.
If he only knew all it took was his question. No games, no gimmicks, no big charades or anything like that. He wouldn't need fireworks, candles, or rose petals. He just needed to ask. That's all it would take. If Ben could work up the courage and put his worries aside, he'd have a fiance in Sawyer Scott.
"Speak of the devil..." Graham pointed to a lanky blonde who had pushed a double wide stroller toward the field and was setting out a blanket on the grass.
Ben started for the threesome and pushed through the outfield gate by the dugout. Sawyer got Miller out of the stroller and Ben went to get their son. Holding Bo under his arms, Ben lovingly swung the little boy out of the stroller. Bo erupted into a fit of giggles.
Sitting down and scooping Miller into her lap, Sawyer shielded the sun from her face with a smirk. "If he throws up, it's your fault."
Ben grinned and laid down on his side. "He won't." He'd put Bo down and watched him do some version of a crawl and scoot along the length of his body. Turning to address the blonde haired little girl in Sawyer's lap, Ben reached out and rubbed Miller's leg. "Hey, kiddo. You been good for your mom?"
Sawyer nodded and answered for the five-month old. "So far. We managed to get through lunch without any problems. I did have to go back to the house twice because I forgot the diaper bag and my phone."
Shooting her a killer grin, Ben playfully narrowed his eyes with a smile. "I was wondering why y'all were late?"
Leaning toward him, Sawyer kinked her brow. "We're here now." She left a kiss on Ben's lips and pulled away. "Bo, come tell Daddy what you were saying earlier." Looking at Ben, Sawyer's eyes went wide. "I swear it sounded just like he was trying to say woof.
"Can you say it, Bo? Can you say woof?" He held his arms out to the little guy sporting overalls.
"Lo,lo, lo, lo, lo..." The little boy responded with baby jabber and crawled up to Ben's chest, pressing his open mouth against the soft t-shirt his father was wearing.
Sawyer pushed a few of her finger's through Miller's hair. "We might leave the game a little early, so I can drop them off at the sitter's. I wanna have enough time to get a shower and get ready before we have to be at the church."
Thinking about Davis and Amelia's wedding tonight, Ben nodded. "That's fine. I didn't think they'd make it through the whole game, anyway." He rubbed on Bo's back and started to get up. "I should probably head back. They can't start without the best catcher anyway."
Shielding the sun again, Sawyer smiled. "I suppose not."
Ben leaned down and sweetly said goodbye to the twins and then moved over to Sawyer. "So I'll see you later?"
"Mmm-hmm." Sawyer felt the buzz of his lips against hers, and she knew he was doing it on purpose. Sawyer secretly loved the way it felt.
"And you'll be in that blue dress?"
"Yep."
Ben kissed her and felt his lungs fill up with pride. He had everything he wanted on that one little blanket. "I'll try to find a tie."
"You better." Sawyer twisted her lips into a smile and watched him walk away. He had to be the most handsome catcher in the world.
Ben walked into the dugout and checked the line-up card. His team was batting first and he was up third. Graham called Ben's name and tossed him a helmet. "Which one did that? Miller or Bo?"
Looking down to the wet spot on his shirt, Ben laughed. "Bo."
"They're teething, right?"
"Yeah. Miller was up all night." Ben ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair. "She's gonna be just like Sawyer when she gets older. Stubborn and able to get her way."
"Tell me about it. Hattie and Mae have me wrapped around their fingers already. I'm gonna be in a world of hurt if this new baby ends up being a girl too. Can you imagine?"
"That'd be a lot of estrogen in one house." Ben laughed and picked up a bat and stretched. He glanced around the dugout to the outfield grass beyond the fence. Sawyer was playing patty cake with the twins, and the sunlight was bouncing off her blonde, mess of hair that Miller and Bo had both gotten from her.
"Trammell. You're on deck now."
Ben heard his name being called and he started to walk to the on deck circle still thinking about his little family not fifty yards away. Up to the plate, Ben gripped the bat and eyed the pitch as it soared towards him. It wouldn't matter if it was a base hit or a home run. Ben knew he'd already knocked it out of the park.
The crack of the bat echoed off of home plate and Ben sprinted for first base. He could hear Sawyer's cheers as he rounded first and he slid into second with a double. He caught Sawyer's eyes and sent a wink her way as he patted his helmet and clapped his hands.
Sure, he'd hit that ball for his teammates, but he was really doing it for her. He'd do anything for Sawyer, and there was only one more thing he had to do.
OTHOTH
It was close to five-thirty and the noise from the hairdryer created a deafening echo in the bathroom. Sawyer was frantically trying to finish getting ready. Ben was on his way back from dropping the twins with the sitter and Sawyer was trying to tame her wild hair for the wedding. They had thirty minutes before they needed to be downtown, and Sawyer knew they would be cutting it close.
"Ben?" Sawyer called over her shoulder wondering if he was back yet. She needed him to zip up her dress. "Or not..." Sawyer started to blush up her checks and dab mascara on when she heard Ben walk through the house. She didn't hear him say hello, but only the rustling of hangers in the closet. "What are you doing?" Sawyer slid one earring in and walked into the bedroom.
"Bo spit up on me!" He held his left arm out to show the trail of grossness that went down the front of his jacket. "I don't have another jacket that will go with these pants."
"Oh my god... Are you kidding?" Sawyer moved closer to him to see if his jacket was salvageable but it wasn't. "What about your blue one?"
"I have to iron it...and the pants."
"What about the gray suit?"
"The pocket is ripped."
"Well nobody is going to see the pocket." They were in a time crunch, and the gray suit was perfectly fine.
Ben started to get his gray suit out of the closet and told Sawyer to look for a tie. "The purple one. Get the purple one." Frantically hurrying to the laundry room, Ben quickly tried to steam his clothes. Once they were as wrinkle free as they were gonna get, Ben slid his pants on and ran back to the bedroom. He grabbed the dress shirt and slipped it on and then secured his tie around his neck. Ben put the jacket over his shoulders and started to get his things. He dropped his wallet in his pocket and felt it slide down his leg to his shoe. Obviously that was the busted pocket.
"Ok, are you ready?" Sawyer had her purse and looked at Ben with wide eyes. "We have got to fly downtown."
"I know. Sorry." He got the keys from the dresser and followed Sawyer out of the house. "Hold on, hold on. Sawyer, wait..." Ben stopped Sawyer at the front stoop of their house and stood behind her. "You're dress..." He pulled the zipper up to the top and hooked the clasp.
"Oh, thanks." She turned to look at him and smiled.
He simply nodded and they hurried to the car. The duo sped downtown and made it there just before the ushers closed the church doors. Sawyer and Ben found seats near the back and didn't have long until the ceremony began. Ben snaked his arm over Sawyer's shoulders and leaned close to her. He hadn't gotten a chance to tell Sawyer how good she looked. Her hair, her dress, her skin; Sawyer was stunning.
"You look beautiful by the way."
Her blue eyes found his and there was true sincerity in her voice when she replied back. "Thank you."
The soft music began throughout the church and the wedding party began to walk down the aisle. Before groomsmen or bridesmaids entered, the mothers of the bride and groom were escorted to their seats.
"Oh gosh...here comes Brooke." Sawyer turned to watch her godmother. Brooke looked fabulous as usual but it was the smile and genuine happiness the raspy-voiced woman was wearing that stole the show. There was an emotional glossy sheen that came across Brooke's dark eyes and Sawyer even found herself getting choked up. She was so happy for Davis and Amelia, and probably more excited for Brooke. Her god-mother had wanted this for a long time. Looking forward, Sawyer caught sight of her own mother. Peyton winked at her oldest causing Sawyer to smile in return.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen were next. A colorful line passed Sawyer and Ben by, and the Coastie leaned into his girlfriend. It didn't seem like it had been that long since they'd been in Charlotte and Graham's wedding party.
As the bride readied herself, the crowd of friends and family stood up. Sawyer could feel Ben at her back and the support he gave as she leaned against his chest. Amelia started to walk towards Davis, and Sawyer couldn't deny her empathy. A small, teeny-tiny, portion of her heart was beating with a sharp ferocity just as Amelia's probably was. Sawyer never imagined herself wanting all of this. What would a piece of paper and rings change about a relationship? Nothing. At least that's what Sawyer always thought. But feeling the ambiance of the wedding and standing next to Ben as they watched Davis and Amelia exchange vows, Sawyer felt her curiosity creep up. She glanced down to her hands and rubbed her empty ring finger. It didn't feel vacant, it didn't feel lonely. This wedding stuff was just going to her head.
"Beautiful wedding, wasn't it." An older woman next to Sawyer smiled as they watched Davis and Amelia walk hand in hand out of the church.
"Mmm-hmm." Sawyer nodded and felt the flame of curiosity dampen as the ceremony came to a close.
"Hey...let's go out the side and beat the traffic." Ben touched Sawyer's shoulder and pointed to the side exit of the church.
Following each other outside, the two thirty-somethings made it to the car and drove off to the reception. Sawyer called to check in on the babies and was happy to hear they were doing well.
"So no catastrophe's?" Ben turned the car toward the country club and grinned.
"Not yet." Sawyer looked out the window and shook her head thinking of the wardrobe malfunction. "Not like earlier." Turning to Ben, Sawyer arched her brow. "You were flying Bo in the air, weren't you?"
Stammering, Ben shrugged his shoulders. "It wouldn't have been so bad if you did give him those Gerber snacks right before."
"He was hungry." Sawyer cut her eyes at Ben. He wasn't about to make that her fault, was he?
"But you gave him like two handfuls."
"Ben..." Sawyer clinched her jaw shut and took a deep breath. They weren't going to fight about this right now.
"Sawyer..." In a condescending tone, he shot her name right back at her.
Sternly looking out the window, the blonde ignored the Coastie all the way to the reception. Without a word, Sawyer slipped out of the car and walked ten yards ahead of her boyfriend into the country club. Spotting Charlotte, Sawyer mazed through the crowds and sat down at the table where her cousin was.
"Hey. We didn't see you at the..." Charlotte's words fell short of a full sentence when she noticed Sawyer's demeanor. "What's wrong?"
Sighing, Sawyer shook her head and eyed Charlotte's drink and swiped a quick sick to settle her anger and disappointment of her and Ben's last exchange. "Ugh..." Setting the drink down, the blonde's eye brow's bunched. "What in the hell is that?"
Wincing, Charlotte laughed. "Tonic...you know..." Rubbing her hands over her pregnant belly, the brunette laughed, "since I'm with child and all."
Momentarily forgetting her best friends was seven months pregnant, Sawyer looked at the drink and shuttered.
"Well what's with this broody face? What happened?"
Sawyer took a long, deep breath. "Just Ben being Ben, not wanting to take responsibility for anything that goes wrong. He's always wants to be the good guy when things go wrong. Somehow it's always my fault." Sawyer could see Charlotte needed more to go on so she went on. "Long story short. Before the twins went to the sitters I gave Bo a handful of those Gerber...snack things. Well, then, Ben thought it would be a good idea to through Bo around in the air, but it wasn't, and Bo spit up all over Ben."
Frowning, Charlotte contorted her face.
"Yeah, so I've told him a million times that it's dumb to do that, but he did it anyway, and then he practically said it my fault because I was the one that gave Bo food. But I'm sorry, when my son is hungry...I'm going to feed him."
Charlotte leaned back on her chair and rested her hand on her stomach. "Those little fights are just gonna happen. Yesterday Graham and I argued about what kind of applesauce to get at the grocery store. It's dumb and in hindsight absolutely ridiculous, but don't let it get to you."
"Applesauce?" Sawyer let out a laugh arching her brow.
"See how absurd it seems?" Charlotte shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "You're going to argue about dumb stuff. It's just going to happen. No relationship is perfect, and add in kids, and you've got plenty on your plate. A little tug-of-war between the two of you isn't so bad."
Sawyer scanned the room and felt her eyes fall on two men sitting by the bar. Both had blondish hair, though one was graying, and both had blue eyes. Ben was sitting with Lucas and Sawyer swallowed a lump in her throat. They were probably talking about her.
"Go talk to him," Charlotte encouraged.
Propelled by her best friend's words, Sawyer got up and made her way across the ballroom to the bar. She approached the men and eyed an empty stool next to her father. "This seat taken?"
Lucas shook his head taking a sip from his beer. "It's yours if you want it." He watched his thirty-three year old take a seat. "Do you want something to drink?"
Sawyer politely declined and shook her head. "I'm alright for now."
Sensing the awkwardness between Sawyer and Ben, Lucas started to get off his stool. "I'm gonna go find your mom."
Lucas drifted away from the bar leaving the other two separated by an empty bar stool. Divided by the hollow space, there was obvious distance between Sawyer and Ben. He was fiddling with his fingers thinking of her coarse attitude in the car, and Sawyer was starring down at the hem of her dress disappointed with the way he'd spoken to her. After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity, Sawyer and Ben both turned to one another to speak.
"Sorry", they both said at once.
Letting out a small laugh, Sawyer felt her Scott smirk creep over her lips. "Jinx."
Ben grinned and motioned to the bar tender to get a second drink. "It's not a Coke but..." He watched Sawyer grab his drink and take a swing and an ice cube all at once.
Sawyer crunched the ice between her teeth and lifted her brow. "We can share for now."
Studying the woman before him, Ben scooted over to the empty stool and propped his head up with his hand. "Why do we make things so difficult?"
"I think it's just in our nature." Sawyer turned her stool so her waist was square with Ben's. She looked at his face studying the roundness of his cheeks, and the sun-kissed tan he'd gotten playing in the baseball game. He was so handsome, and deserving of so much more. "Cause we're opposites."
"Oh I don't think so." Ben grinned and shook his head. "I think we're just alike."
"Since when?"
Raising his shoulders, Ben watched the bartender set Sawyer's drink down. He wasn't going to expand upon his statement. He'd let her think about it for a minute. While Sawyer consciously thought about what's he'd said, Ben reached over and took the first sip from Sawyer's drink. The whiskey that ran over his tongue had a sweetness that quickly morphed into a cool burn as it ran down his throat. He saw her scowl, and Ben could only grin. Clearly she'd wanted the first sip. "Now we're even."
Hopping off the stool, Sawyer gulped down her drink after hearing the bass guitar introduce the melody of a familiar song. Grabbing Ben by the hand, Sawyer pulled him to the dance floor and looked over her shoulder. "We're not even close."
Ben followed Sawyer and couldn't help but laugh. It was always a game with them, some type of competition. The music buzzed through their ears and Ben watched as Sawyer's hips sashayed ahead of him. She'd always win. No matter what it was they were doing or saying, Sawyer had that way about her, and Ben didn't even mind.
OTHOTH
Spring fell into summer and summer was quickly coming to a close. The August breeze was humid as it came in through the kitchen window. Feeling the sweet air against her cheek, Sawyer used the front of her wrist to whisk away an itch on her forehead. She looked at her sorry attempt at cutting up vegetables and grimaced.
"It might be a little longer than I thought."
Kneeling down on the floor, Ben held Miller's little hands in his own and smiled as he practiced walking with her. "That's okay. We need the extra time, don't we, Mills?" The little girl's blonde curls bounced as her feet slid out front under her. "Whoa, partner." Ben tightened his grip on his daughter and steadied her.
Sawyer slung a dishrag over her shoulder and watched Ben work with Miller. It probably would be another month before either of the twins walked, but it was sweet to watch the Coastie work with the ten month old. Maybe Sawyer would be wrong? Maybe Ben's hard work and patience would pay off. Maybe one of their tots would walk before Ben left on a three week patrol. Maybe, but probably not. He was scheduled to leave in the morning.
"Oh...oh..." Ben's knees were killing him as they dug into the hardwood, but he didn't care. Miller was standing up all by herself. That was a triumph of its own. "Call her name, OJ. She might try to step to you."
Sawyer eagerly knelt down and held out her arms. "Come here, Miller. Come on."
As if cheering on his sister, Bo started kicking his legs in his high chair and held out his tongue.
Both waiting for that monumental milestone of Miller's first steps, Sawyer and Ben were frozen in place. They were silent and the only noise in the room came from Bo and the bustle of cicadas outside.
"Go to Mom, Miller. You got it."
Just as frozen as her parents, Miller looked from her mom to her dad. Now he wanted her?
Laughing, Sawyer shook her head. "I think we're confusing her." Like calling for a dog, Sawyer gently clapped her hands. "Here, Miller. Come here."
In the other room asleep on the floor by the couch, Trout perked his ears up at the command. His got up and made his way to the kitchen, his nails clicking on the floor. The copper colored golden retriever stood at the entryway and tilted his head. What was it they wanted?
"No, Trout. Not you."
Ben laughed and looked over to their dog. "That's what you get when you call for Miller like an animal."
"Well how else am I supposed to do it?"
Grinning at his girlfriend, Ben didn't have an answer.
With the dog and the baby still frozen in place somebody was going to have to make a move. Like an old western movie, Miller and Trout were staring at each other. No holsters or guns involved. Only Huggies around her hips, Miller looked like she was ready. One foot slowly raised from the ground, her tiny barefoot pointing in the direction of her mother. But Trout didn't and wasn't going to back down. He'd been at that house much longer than those babies. He'd let them tug on his ears and pull on his tail, but he was making the first move. His paws clomped over the floor and when he neared the small child, Miller promptly plopped down on her bottom.
"No! We were sooo close!" Ben scooped up the little girl and shook his head. "Gotta take initiative, Mills." He placed her in her high chair next to Bo and looked at the boy. "You're next. After dinner it's you and me, bud."
"Let's work on getting dinner done first." Sawyer turned to look at her lack of preparation and winced. She'd managed to get the kids' food done, but the send off steak dinner she and Ben were supposed to have was still in the works.
"They're almost done. You want to wait till their down and then we can worry about us?" It wouldn't be much longer till the kiddos were asleep for the night. Bo was already thumbing his eyelashes.
Nodding at Ben's great idea, Sawyer put the steaks back in the fridge and knew the rest could wait. She walked over to Miller and pulled up a chair.
Holding out a spoon for Sawyer, Ben arched his brow with that boyish smile. "Conductor Scott, your train needs a little bit of fuel."
Rolling her eyes because he was so much better at that kind of stuff, Sawyer took the spoon and dipped it in the jar of pureed sweat potatoes. She looked to Miller and held out the food. "Chuga, chuga, chuga, chuga..." Moving the spoon towards the little girl, Sawyer couldn't help but smile even if she felt childish.
"Choo-Choo!" Ben followed Sawyer's lead and fed Bo a hearty amount of potatoes. Sawyer watched the two Trammell boys work like clockwork. They had it down to a science. "It's all about the arm movement." Ben fed Bo another spoonful and pulled his arm down like a conductor as he said choo-choo.
Sawyer could only laugh and tried the same moves with Miller. It wasn't as fluid as Bo and Ben's teamwork, but Miller was getting her nutrients none the less. The littler blonde had a goatee of orange, but that didn't phase Sawyer. The babies would get a bath before bed, anyways.
Once dinner was over, Ben kept the kids entertained while Sawyer got the bath water ready. She got out an extra bottle of no-tears shampoo because Ben had a bad habit of using way too much. Styling Miller and Bo's hair into soapy mohawks midway into bathing took more than skill. It called for lots and lots of shampoo. Miller and Bo had done a decent job of maintaining bath etiquette throughout. A smaller portion of water ended up on the floor than normal and there were no tantrums from either of them. Sunken cars and trains were at the bottom of the bathtub as the water drained out.
Tag-teaming, Sawyer and Ben dressed the twins in matching pajamas with little fish on them. Sawyer gently ran a comb over their heads and parted their fine blonde hair while Ben set the needle on the record and turned the volume so it would softly buzz throughout the room. Just like their mom, Miller and Bo seemed at ease with music. It would only take a song or two and they'd be fast asleep.
Sawyer was seated in the rocking chair with Miller in her arms and Ben was standing, slowing swaying with Bo. Through the darkness, Sawyer watched the lovable goofball press his cheek against their son's head. It was such a sweet, subtle moment that Sawyer could watch over and over again. The piano and soft strings echoed through the babies' room and Miller let out a lone hiccup. Sawyer looked down to the little girl and smiled. Just like her mother, Miller was stubborn and was going to fight sleep as long as she could stand it. Bo always fell asleep first.
After making sure the twins were down for the night, Sawyer walked from the back of the house to the front. Ben was stretched out on the couch, one hand behind his head, the other perched on his chest, and his eyes glued to the television recap of the latest Braves game.
"We win?" She slowly walked towards him and watched him shift around on the couch so she could fit.
"No. The Cardinals killed us. Seven to one."
Laying down next to him, Sawyer leaned back into his chest and rested her head on the crook of Ben's elbow. "Ugh...well that sucks." She felt her weight move and she yelped with a laugh. The hardwood floor was going to hurt if she fell off. "Oh God...we're not gonna fit." Their couch didn't seem big enough to hold them both laying down.
"I got you." Laughing at her girly cry, Ben moved his arm to to hold her side. Her tall frame needed securing. Sawyer's shampoo floated through the air and he changed the subject. "Y'all gonna be alright while I'm gone?"
She leaned her cheek into his chest with a smile. "With you gone. I can have that fling with the bag boy at Food Lion."
"Haha. Very funny." Ben rolled his eyes. He knew that on some level Sawyer used humor to fight off the reality of him leaving. It was probably easier to joke about than really thinking it through. The Coastie took a deep breath and turned more serious. "Miller's gonna walk when I'm gone."
"Maybe not." Sawyer shook her head. She didn't want to think that he might miss a milestone.
"She will. I know it. She was so close earlier."
"I'll...I'll push her back down then." Sawyer couldn't tell if she herself was being serious or not.
Ben laughed and shook his head. "No. No. It might be kind of cool to come back home and have her walk to me at the dock. Maybe both of them will be walking by then?" Three weeks was a long time for the twins to practice.
There was a long silence between the two thirty-somethings. Sawyer snaked her arm around Ben's torso and took a deep breath. A small laugh escaped from her lips.
"What?"
Initially not wanting to explain, Sawyer shook her head and rested her cheek on his chest. "It...it's the bar soap." Her cheeks felt warm and she started to smile. "You've used it as long as I've known you, and...I don't know." Embarrassed, Sawyer closed her eyes. "It's comfortable."
Smiling, the Coastie pulled Sawyer closer. "We're comfortable, aren't we?" More than a literal question, Ben was asking about their relationship as a whole.
Turning to face him, the blonde woman nodded. She didn't need to say anything. It was all in her eyes. Ben could see the last nine years of his life in that look. Nine years. It was incredible it had been that long.
Ben ran his arms around her sides and used his strength to pull her closer. His blue eyes met hers but she kissed him before he could kiss her. Soft but powerful, Sawyer acted first. Resting all of her body weight on Ben, Sawyer's hot lips left a burn of temptation on Ben's. His strong fingers ran along her back and under her shirt. He held her against himself and felt Sawyer burry her face in the crook of his neck. Her nose was just below his ear, and Ben closed his eyes, his arms holding her in place.
They stayed like that for a minute or two. Their sweet embrace was broken up when Sawyer's stomach started to growl.
"We forgot to eat, didn't we?" Ben started to grin and moved out from under his girlfriend.
"Yeah, I guess so." Sawyer nodded and brushed her hand through her tangled mess of blonde. "I can do those steaks in a skillet pretty fast."
"That sounds good." He followed her into the kitchen but had to go grab something. "I'll be right back."
While Ben was gone, Sawyer found the cast iron skillet and dropped some butter on the bottom. She cranked the stove and watched the yellow square of butter melt into a pool of bubbling oil. The steaks sizzled against the heated pan and sent a peppery aroma into the air.
Ben came back into view and Sawyer kicked her head towards the cabinet. "Grab two plates, will you?"
Getting two mismatched plates that came from a hodgepodge of his and her stuff, Ben opened the refrigerator. "Do you want a salad too?" They looked at each other and both of them shrugged. The more they made, the more than had to clean up.
When the pair did get around to doing the dishes, most of it wasn't theres. Colorful plastic bowls, plates, and utensils started to fill the sink. Disney character after Disney character ended up in the sink. Like an assembly line, Ben would hand Sawyer the dishes and she'd douse them with soap and water.
"Looks like somebody didn't eat all her turkey." Ben put Miller's plate down and grinned. "She's gonna be our picky eater, huh?"
"Probably." Drying a sippy cup, Sawyer nodded. "Is there more?" She reached out for the last of the plates and ran them under the warm water drawing her attention to the sink.
Standing next to her, Ben slipped his hand in his pocket. His fingers wrapped around the small black box he'd gotten from the laundry room. He coudln't help but hold his breath. Ben's sudden nerves were getting the best of him. With one quick breath, he pulled the box out and slid it a few inches down the counter to Sawyer.
Shaking her hands over the sink, the blonde turned to the next thing Ben passed her. Her eyes found the little black box and she felt the air leaves her lungs. Was that what she thought it was? Sawyer knew it was and her eyes started to water. She'd always thought about this moment, but she never imagined to get so emotional. Her chin bunched into a quiver and Sawyer covered her mouth. He better be serious.
With a wide, goofy grin, Ben faced Sawyer and picked up the box. "I don't care if we have five people or five hundred people at the wedding. I don't care if it's just you and me at the courthouse. But I want to marry you." He paused and stepped closer to her. "I always have." Ben brushed one of his hands through her hair and placed a sweet kiss on her temple.
The tenderness in his voice made her believe it. Fighting back tears, Sawyer cocked her hand on her hip and bit her bottom lip. She looked up to Ben and nodded. "I want to marry you, too."
Brushing a tear away from her cheek with his thumb, Ben smiled. "I thought you might say that." Something about a simple moment in the kitchen had felt right.
Laughing, Sawyer kissed Ben and threw her arms around him.
"Don't you want to see it?" He was still holding the little black box, unopened, in his hand.
Forgetting that she hadn't even seen the ring yet, Sawyer moved away from Ben and watched him open the box. The anticipation killed her, but as soon as she saw the platinum setting and sizable diamond, her eyes widened. She instantly reached for it and discovered its antique nature. It wasn't made to look old. It was old. With characters of the early twenties, the ring was beautiful. It was classy, it had age, it had style. Sawyer's name was all over it. She loved it.
Sawyer held her shaky hand out for Ben to slip the ring on, and he was just as delicate as ever in doing so. Once settled in its new permanent home, they both studied the ring before looking to each other.
Sawyer Scott always knew she'd marry Ben Trammell, and marry him she would.
OTHOTH
Finally, right? After was feels like an eternity of will they or won't they, Ben did finally ask her to marry him. Though, if you caught it, it wasn't even a question at all. Next chapter we'll see what happens when tasked with planning a wedding and how that sits with the couple. It's either going to go really well, or not. You be the judge.
My reviewers, you are all amazeballs. Literal balls of amazement. I mean that. I do. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!
Guest: I won't be able to hit all the milestones. That would make this story drag on, but I'll try to hit the high notes...or at least mention them in some capacity.
Penguins crying: Looks like your questions regarding a proposal from Ben were right on spot. I hope you enjoyed it!
Guest 2: Thank you for the review!
Guest 3: Like I said in Guest 1's reply, I'll try to show some of the moments. I won't be able to them all cause I don't want the story to drag on and be too fluffy. Thanks for the feedback!
Guest 4: (you review ch. 1) Yay, I'm glad I'm portraying Sawyer as you imagined her too. Thanks for the feedback!
Review Please!