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Chapter 34 – Breakfast with the Bennetts

Samuel brushed his hair as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He wore a pair of jeans with a t-shirt an oxford shirt. "Oh, you are a handsome guy."

Karen walked into the bathroom behind him and laughed, "Yes, you are."

He turned around to look at her. She was wearing the same dark blue dress, had done her make-up, and braided her hair. They had both returned and slept for a few more hours after their visit to the ship.

"You are lovely."

She hung up his dressing gown that she had worn earlier. "Thank you, Samuel. Arles is up and nearly ready to go. He said something about a bet?"

"Yeah, we need you to come up with a wager. He believes you are simply a human."

She grinned and turned to look at him. "And what do you think?"

"That nothing in my life is ever that simple."

She nodded, "Well. I'll give it some consideration."

"Yeah, give it a think. Something, really good." He told her as he pulled her into his arms. "You might have saved my brother's life last night."

"I think you're just being dramatic."

"I'll tell you what happened later and you decide." He laid his forehead to hers and held her. "Did you sleep well? You looked like you did."

"Did you just watch me sleep?"

He grinned, "I couldn't sleep."

"Too excited?" She smiled.

"Absolutely. You are stunning. Do you know that?"

She smiled at him. "Do I have that glow everyone talks about?"

He leaned back and looked at her. "You do."

She giggled. "I'm warming up to this."

He continued to smile at her. "I'm thrilled about it, but. I want to tell you something right now."

"What?"

He shook his head. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who are all….gushy and kissing their wife's stomach throughout the entire pregnancy. Talking to the baby, and of that. I think that's just…."

She laughed, "I've always thought that was so sweet."

He immediately knelt down in front of her and kissed her stomach. "Hello, in there. Your Daddy already loves you so much."

Karen laughed. "Samuel. You are such a goofball!"

He kissed her stomach again. "That's your Mum telling me I'm a goofball. She's such an amazing woman. I can't wait for you to meet her. You're my sweet, little blueberry."

He stood up and smiled at Karen. "So, ready for breakfast?"

She couldn't stop smiling at him. "What was that?"

"What was what?" He asked.

She pointed at him. "You just said that you wasn't going to be a gushy guy-"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. The last few seconds are all fuzzy to me."

She rolled her eyes and laughed.

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They arrived at the Bennett's beachfront home. It was clear that Arles had become part of their family while Samuel had been away. He walked in front of Samuel, with his arm around Anne. She was beaming to see him again, "And I know how you love fruit salad, so there is a huge bowl out here."

He kissed the side of her head. "You are brilliant, you are!"

Samuel walked with his hands in his pockets as he looked around the house. Karen had told him it would all be new to him because he had never been there before. He was trying to remember if he had ever been to Florida in his life. He had been to Disneyworld in Georgia several times.

He saw framed photos of Karen, in various ages, as he walked along. He stopped and smiled thinking about the baby he would meet in a few months, and hoped that he was right in thinking it would be a little girl. He had seen a baby in his vision, but it might have been a boy. He would be happy with either one, of course.

It was a lovely, sunshine filled day outside and Anne led them outside to the back porch.

The round, glass table had an umbrella that danced in the wind that came off of the ocean that roared just yards away from them. The view was breathtaking with the snow, white beach.

On the table, there was two kettles, a huge bowl of fruit salad, pancakes, sausages and bacon and of course, a plate of chocolate chip cookies.

"John stepped out, but will be back in just a second. He told me to go ahead and have everyone start." She told them as they sat around table, Arles' holding a chair out for Anne. She smiled and thanked him.

"There is tea and coffee. And, help yourself to everything. Please. I don't want to have to carry it in the house." She insisted as she sat back and waved her hands.

Samuel poured a cup of coffee and sat it next to him. "Karen will want coffee, and I'll have tea."

Arles handed him a cup he had already made. "And there you go, dear."

Samuel grinned at him, "Thank you, honey."

Arles rose his glass and they clanged them together and smiled.

Karen laughed at them. "So, Samuel. How are you feeling? Karen told us you were injured."

He smiled warmly. "I'm doing really well, thank you ma'am."

Arles smiled at his brother. "Karen makes sure he doesn't do too much."

"Makes me sleep. Take my medicine. All of that."

Anne laughed. "Sounds like her."

Karen walked out on the porch carrying Samuel's baseball cap full of his things. "Oh, we're eating out here?"

Arles and Samuel stood up. Samuel held a chair out for her. She smiled at him and sat down. He kissed her cheek, and sat beside of her.

Anne spoke, "Samuel was just telling me how you are being an excellent nurse."

Karen laughed. "A demanding one. He's the worst patient."

Arles agreed. "He is a terrible patient. Dad complains about it all of the time."

Karen handed Samuel his cap. "And here you go. Your wallet, phone that Mom charged for you, and your watch."

Samuel grinned and slipped his wallet back in his pocket. "Oh, I feel more complete. Thank you! Oh, I was worried about my watch."

Karen handed Arles the small silver card, "Arles, your photo device."

Arles sipped the photo device in his pocket. "Thank you. Sammy, I have that Navigation Ball back at home."

"I have another one. Keep it." Samuel nodded as he put back on his watch. He pressed a button on the side and it beeped. A voice said, "Activated."

Samuel grinned. "Oh, I love this watch."

Arles pointed at him as he sipped his tea. "Why weren't you wearing your watch?"

Samuel flipped his hat over and sat it on the table. "I have no idea. It would have really saved everyone a lot of trouble, though."

"Yes, it would." Arles grabbed a cookie and pointed. "Karen is still wearing your bracelet."

"Yeah, Tony has one for her that he'll give her at dinner." Samuel said and ran his hand through his hair.

Karen held her hand out. "Then just take this one off."

"No way." He grinned. "Not until you have your own. Besides, I have my watch. I'm good."

She smiled as he brought her hand up and kissed her ring. "And you found your engagement ring."

She giggled. "Yes. It was just where I left it."

Anne smiled as she sipped her coffee. "I love that ring. It's perfect."

Samuel looked at it. "I love the lighthouse. I think you need a different one, though."

Karen smiled. "No. I like this one."

Arles handed Samuel a cookie. "And try this. You went on and on about these before."

Samuel looked suspiciously at the cookie and then back at Arles. "Did you drop that on the ground?"

Arles laughed, "Only once, and I wiped my nose on it. Eat it, man."

Samuel chuckled and ate the cookie.

Anne laughed, "You two are hilarious together. I love it."

Karen sipped her coffee. "Oh, that's perfect. Thank you whoever prepared that for me."

Anne smiled and pointed at Samuel. "He did."

Karen looked back at Samuel, who looked to be in deep thought about something as he chewed the cookie. She put her hand on his arm. "Are you alright?"

Samuel held up his finger. "Just a sec, Karen."

He continued to look as if he was thinking very hard about something. Then suddenly he turned to Anne. "Where is Henry?"

Anne sipped her coffee. "John is walking him. He'll be right back."

"Legate likes these cookies, too. He was washing up from you making them, when Karen brought back the shopping. She was trying to carry too much."

Karen laughed. "He remembered!"

He looked back at her, "And your middle name is Eleanor. After your grandmother. Just like Legate is named after his grandfather. You bought a magazine with my Mum and Dad on the cover because Anne is following some crazy story the press thinks they know about Mum."

Anne smiled. "Sounds like he's remembered a lot."

Samuel threw out his hands. "Karen! I remember everything! Your Mum went home that afternoon, and I came back!"

Karen held her finger out. "Whoa! Stop!"

"And you told me about the-"

Karen put her hand over Samuel's mouth. "Excuse us, Mom. Apparently, the caffeine has kicked in."

She grabbed Samuel's hand and took him into the house with her. He allowed her to lead him into the small restroom. She turned on the light and closed the door.

He looked around, "And we're in the toilet?"

She pointed at him. "You were about to really embarrass yourself."

He laughed. "Thank you. Yes. We made love without using anything. The current changed and…" He closed his eyes tightly. "Oh, I can't wait for us to be able to do that again. You're right. That is amazing!"

She giggled and wrapped her arms around him. "What else do you remember?"

He laughed, "You went to the school, and Soli cut his hand. I healed it and sent him back to Tony, but he came back for the football game. Then we went to New York. Pepper got us tickets to the Lion King and we snogged through most of it."

She laughed. "Yes, we did."

"Oh, hell! And that car!" He grit his teeth, "Oh, that is a sexy car! Is it still at the school?"

"I have no idea."

He held her tightly. "Karen! I remember all of that. Just like it happened yesterday!"

She kissed his lips quickly. "Then what happened?"

He thought. "I wrote in your planner that I needed to ask you to marry me. You said yes, and then…it just was an engagement. I remember getting the ring. And the necklace. Where is the necklace?"

She laughed. "It's upstairs."

"We went to Uncle Tony's that night, and then the concert."

She continued to hold him as he face became serious.

"That's all I remember. We were at the concert. Is that it?"

"No. We came back to the hotel, and that's when everything happened."

"Why don't I remember that?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. But, Samuel. That's amazing you remember as much as you do! Do you remember me wearing the towel?"

He laughed under his breath. "I remember wearing the tie and you having me run my hands across your body. Oh, can we do that again?"

She giggled. "Yes."

He could barely contain his excitement. He picked her up off the floor and held her tightly. "I remembered!"

She laughed.

He sat her down and looked in her eyes. "Oh, I want to kiss the hell out of you."

She pointed at him. "Do not spoil my make-up."

"Why do you even wear that? I live to spoil your make-up."

She giggled. "I love you so much."

He kissed her lips quickly. "Okay. I need to have a fuzzy moment."

"What-"

He knelt down and kissed her stomach again. "Blueberry! Daddy remembers. He's getting better! Isn't that brilliant?"

Karen covered her mouth and laughed. "Oh, Samuel."

He stood up and shook his head seriously. "Totally not going to be a gushy guy."

"Then what the hell is that?" She insisted.

"What is what?" He grinned.

She laughed as he took her hand and they walked out of the loo together.

Karen's father had returned and Henry barked at them both.

Karen laughed, "Hi, there Henry."

Henry smelled of Samuel's leg, became extremely excited, and began to race around the house at top speed.

Karen shook her head. "He's happy you're back, too."

"Nutter." Samuel grinned.

They arrived back outside on the porch.

Arles and the Lieutenant both stood up when they rejoined them. Karen and her father embraced one another.

Arles smiled, "Sir, may I introduce my brother, Doctor Samuel Alistair Peter Tyler-Smith."

Samuel looked at Arles, "Do you have to do the entire thing?"

Arles pointed at him, "Be grateful I'm saving the title for later. And this is Karen's father, Lieutenant John Bennett. Is that right? Did I do that right?"

The Lieutenant laughed and shook Samuel's hand. "It was great, Arles. Thank you. Please, sit down."

Samuel held the chair out for Karen again, and sat beside of her. Arles was already tucking into a bowl of fruit salad on the other side of Samuel.

The Lieutenant propped his arm up on the back of Anne's chair. "It is absolutely, my pleasure to meet you finally. Words will never express my gratitude for what you have done."

Karen smiled, "Oh, Daddy."

Samuel felt Karen put her hand on his thigh. He smiled, "It was what needed to be done. I wish I could…remember it-"

"Some things are better forgotten." He leaned up on the table. "I've met your father, Lewis, Grandfather and I have to tell you, I'm extremely impressed."

Samuel looked back at Arles, "Notice he didn't mention you?"

Arles was unconcerned as he ate the fruit salad, "He's getting to me."

Karen rolled her eyes and laughed.

The Lieutenant smiled, "And your brother, certainly. Your Dad has explained to me how there are now, two of you, Arles, and your sister."

Samuel looked surprised. "Yes, sir. Wow. Did he?"

"Yes. Don't worry. Everything is classified. But, I have given something a great deal of thought that I would like you to consider."

"Sir?"

"There are now two: Samuel Smiths, and Arles Smiths. You are planning on marrying my daughter, and he is your brother, what if you both became Bennett?"

"Really?" Karen asked.

"Well, that's your family's name." Arles said.

"And you are both about to be part of my family with this marriage. It would be my honor for both of you men to call yourselves that. Your father and I have discussed it and he told me that Smith wasn't even his name. He would leave it up to you. But, I believe would help with explanations if you had a different name. Make you all a bit safer."

Samuel looked back at Arles. "What do you think? Arles Bennett?"

Arles grinned, "Doctor Samuel Alistair Peter Bennett?"

"We don't have to the whole thing!" Samuel laughed.

Karen smiled, "I really like it. Samuel Bennett. It rather has a nice sound to it."

Samuel rose his eyebrows. "Wow. A new name. That's rather, brilliant! Why didn't we think of that?"

Arles sipped his tea, "I believe we were too close to the problem."

"Wonderful!" The Lieutenant stated and poured himself some tea. "And it would seem that is settled. So, I'll say that it is very nice to finally meet you, Doctor Samuel Bennett."

Samuel smiled proudly and shook the Lieutenant's hand again. "It is my pleasure."

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