"We all remember what John Boy used to get up to with Marcia. He just needs a little push, and they might start talking again." Erin shrugged.
"They aren't seventeen anymore. They're twenty three. That's a lot different." Emma shook her head as she pulled on her nightgown.
"But you could see him blushing." Elizabeth yawned as she snuggled into her warm blanket.
"Goodnight."
Emma sang along to the radio as she sweeped the floor. "So while there's moonlight and music,
and love and romance. Let's face the music and dance, dance, let's face the music and dance."
Ben stood up, dropped the broom in Emma's hand, and smirked. "Wanna dance?"
Emma smiled, glancing around to make sure no one had heard him. Of course they had; but were all pretending not to have heard, except John Boy who had his brotherly gaze on them. "All right."
Ben smiled and they danced awkwardly. Eventually, Emma felt herself relax and start to enjoy dancing with him. But then she stopped herself. Was it right that she was starting to like her adopted brother more? Like Ben had said, it was no taboo as they weren't blood siblings, but it would certainly be frowned upon by some, including Corabeth Godsey. Emma dropped his hand, smiling apologetically, and walked slowly towards the porch door, her feet dragging with every step. Leaning over the porch railing, she started to properly think.
"I'm sorry. I scared you off, huh?"
"No, it's fine. It's just, I... I don't know..." Emma blushed at how silly she sounded.
"I understand," Ben said earnestly. "I get it. But this crush isn't like any of the ones before. I really like you, Emma. I've liked you for six years."
Emma sighed in relief and pulled him into a hug. "I really like you too, Ben."
Ben and Emma walked hand in hand down the street in Richmond. They were heading to the movies, to watch 'Wuthering Heights'. Erin had gone to watch it with G. W the week before, and had recommended it gleefully.
Ben payed for them both, and they sat down in the dark room. "Do you know what this is about?" He whispered.
"No. Erin gave me the rundown of the romantic parts, though." Emma giggled softly.
"Oh really? Sounds like her." Ben chuckled. "How romantic were they?" He blushed, meeting her eyes.
Emma smirked. "Oh, some kisses..." Ben went even redder, but before he could reply, the movie began.
Jim Bob crept through the woods, their teeth chattering in the cold. Elizabeth trailed behind him. "What are we doing?" She whined.
Jim Bob glared at her, grabbed her hand, and pulled her along. "Reckless disappeared, so we are trying to find her and her puppies. Remember she got pregnant because Yancy was too lenient with Tiger?"
"Oh? Okay." Elizabeth brightened at the thought of seeing her wonderful dog again.
Jim Bob shushed her. "There she is." He hissed. The brother and sister crouched down lower, until they saw Reckless licking her three puppies.
"Only three? But I thought dogs could have fifteen?" Elizabeth questioned.
"They can have three as well." Jim Bob rolled his eyes.
Elizabeth smiled. "I'm glad we found them, but won't daddy be awful mad when he finds out we've gone?"
Jim Bob shrugged, trying to change the subject. "Well she's safe, so she'll come on home with her puppies soon." He grabbed Elizabeth, the two of them scampered home.
"That was pretty sad." Ben said soberly as they walked towards the car. Emma nodded, but stopped mid sentence as they saw Jason running up.
"Come home, quick! Daddy and Grandpa are at the Baldwins fixing their lights, Jim Bob, Joy and Elizabeth are missing, Erin is on a date with G. W, Curt is at a shift at the hospital, and Mary Ellen has started, uh, con-having the baby!" Jason breathed heavily.
Emma and Ben shared a frantic glance before running to the car. "What the heck is going on tonight?" Emma said in disbelief as Ben started to speed towards home.