Dust on the Bottle (Epilogue)

"Daddy, sit still and close your eyes."

Ben did as he was told wrinkling his nose a little as his daughter applied more makeup to his face than he'd ever wanted to wear. He opened one eye to see his wife recording the entire scene, fully entertained. "Why couldn't you do your mother's makeup, Amaya?"

The fourteen-year-old sighed. "I did," she said rummaging through her bag. "Ugh, I have to go and get my other brush. Don't move."

"I won't," he promised.

Miranda let out a laugh and pulled her foot up on the sofa. "Don't get offended, but you look really pretty, hon."

"You think so?"

She nodded and winked at him. Glancing at the stairs, he moved in cat-like fashion toward his woman, gripping her waist. He kissed her softly on the neck, inching downward toward her chest. Miranda hit his back playfully. "Behave."

"I'm trying to, but you're tempting me." The two of them chuckled. They'd been together for fifteen wonderful years, married almost as long. And these were the best years of his life; raising three children who meant the world to him with his wife who made every day worth living for. Mid-kiss, a set of footsteps thundered down the stairs and Ben ran to his seat thinking that it was his daughter.

Seeing that it was his nineteen-year-old, Tuck, Ben moved back next to his wife as their oldest walked over to him snapping a picture. "Looking good, dad," his kid said tapping his shoulder. The older man grabbed his arm and pulled him into a playful headlock. For a few months, during his commute to and from California, Ben had moved in with Miranda and Tuck. And he'd had fallen even more in love with the boy, never once thinking of him as only "Miranda's son". As soon as they were married, Tuck became his, too.

Then, just before Amaya was born, they'd found another house with two extra rooms, just in case they wanted to grow their family. Which was easier at that point, because Webber "found" a spot for him and he was able to come home to complete his residency. The four of them had been so happy and Miranda started hinting at wanting another baby; though, Ben wasn't sure he wanted any more than the two they'd already had. Especially when they'd tried for a third and were met with devastation when it seemed like it wasn't going to happen.

One day, he'd picked her up from work randomly. They drove out to the country and had a picnic in a field, making love on their blanket and the very next year, their son, Daniel, had been born. The now 10-year-old was outside with his friend, a next-door neighbor, playing volleyball. Through the window behind his wife's head, he could see the ball floating in the air.

"Where are you off to?" Miranda asked Tuck who was coming out of the kitchen with a bag full of stuff.

"Back to the dorms for a bit. There's a paper I need to finish."

Miranda and Ben nodded. "If you need help with it, let me know," she said pushing her glasses on top of her head. Tuck hugged her and she kissed the top of his head. "And don't forget the party tonight."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Make sure you're ready by six, Tuck," Ben echoed as he slapped hands with the teen. Justin and Paige were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and had planned a huge shindig.

"I will, dad."

When he was gone, Ben looked at the pictures Miranda had taken. He did, indeed, look "pretty". "Send those to me please."

"Now, I know you said you wanted a nude lip, but—Daddy!" Amaya screeched coming into the room. He raised his brows, kissed his wife's chin and headed back to his chair. "I said not to move."

"I needed to get something."

The girl put her hands on her hips in a very Miranda-like fashion. "Like what?"

He smiled. "A kiss from your mother." Amaya screwed up her face and her mother giggled. "See there. Should have left it alone." His eyes landed on Miranda and he saw her blushing, watching him and she took his breath away once again—like she often did. He flashed her a quick smile.

"Anyway, I think red is your color."

Ben's face dropped. He really didn't want red lipstick. "You're supposed to give your customers what they want, Amaya," he argued.

"You're not paying," she countered. Miranda's giggle turned into a howl.

"If I were, I definitely wouldn't if you didn't give me what I wanted."

"Well, I'm the makeup artist and it's my job to make you look as good as possible, so…" She turned the tube of the lipstick. "Red it is."

The door swung open and Danny burst in kicking the volleyball with his foot. He reminded Ben so much of himself it was like looking at a clone. "Auntie's home!" He announced ignoring them all going toward the kitchen.

"Wash your hands!" Miranda and Ben reminded him.

"Okay!"

"With soap, Danny!" Ben added with a shake of his head. A few seconds later, Angela walked in. "How do I look?" He asked his older sister. She'd been living with them for the last two years and they loved having her there as another pair of eyes and ears on the kids.

"Wow. You look… wow. Maya, you're doing a great job, sweetie. This is the best I've ever seen him look in 40 years. Sorry, Miranda."

They laughed. "I was thinking it," she jested.

"Ha ha. The women around me are so funny," Ben responded.

"Thank you, Auntie." Smiling, Amaya applied the lipstick.

Once finished, Ben allowed her to take pictures for her portfolio. "Can I wipe it off now?"

"But…" She looked from her aunt to her mom. "It's some of my best work."

"Amaya, we have a dinner to get to with you aunt and uncle."

"Dinner's not for a few hours, daddy."

"Okay, but at some point, I'm going to want to go outside."

Amaya shrugged gathering her stuff. "You can. Just don't take it off until dinner, okay?"

Ben shook his head. "Nah."

"Ma…"

Miranda stood up with a smile in her eyes. "And why would you take it off now?"

"Miranda…"

"Amaya, leave us please," she said. Angela held out her arms for the teen and they walked out of the room and into the kitchen.

Ben turned to his wife. "Whatever you're about to say, keep it. I'm taking this off."

"Not before dinner."

He licked his lips, tasting the lipstick. "What do I get?" He inquired.

She touched the front of his shirt, pulling him down. "I can show you better than I can tell you," she said kissing him lightly.

"I'll be the judge of that," he said putting his lips to her ear.

She took his hand and pulled him up the stairs. By the time they were supposed to leave for dinner, Ben's face had melted off between his wife's thighs. He brushed his hair, looking at Miranda in the mirror struggling to zip up her navy dress that was decorated with tiny with white flowers. He hurried behind her, sliding the zipper up along her side. "Thank you," she said as he kissed her shoulders. "Don't start now."

"You don't start," he whispered against her skin.

"I haven't done anything."

"Have you seen yourself in that dress?"

She hit his shoulder humorously. "Come on." Miranda, Ben and their two youngest climbed into the car and drove across town with Tuck, Angela and her boyfriend, Alonzo, following them. They pulled up to the large hall and the kids scrambled from the car. "Do you have your speech?" Miranda asked when he opened the door and waited as she eased into her black heels.

He felt his breast pocket. "Yes, I have my speech."

"And you're sure you don't need me to proof it?"

He grinned. "It's just about a bunch of talking points, I'm mostly winging it."

She grimaced and he mocked her. After giving each other the onceover, they headed inside. The music was loud, but not piercing and the entire room was decorated elegantly. Immediately, they spotted Ava who was chatting with Tuck. He couldn't believe that the two of were young adults and so tall. It seemed like only yesterday they were running around his legs at the park or dripping ice cream on his backseat after a ballgame. And now one was in college studying to become an engineer and the other had started her own business. Ava rushed over to him. "Uncle Ben!"

He hugged her tightly. "Hey, baby girl."

"Hey, Auntie," she said grabbing the much shorter Miranda.

"Hi, sweetie. Where's your mom and dad?" Miranda asked.

"Mom is…" Ava turned and pointed to Paige talking to some people on one side of the room. "And dad is somewhere."

Ben winked at her. "that was helpful."

"Did Amaya do your makeup?" The young woman asked pointing to his face. He nodded. "Looks good."

"Thank you."

Someone called Ava's name. "Excuse me." She smiled at them before walking away.

"Uh, I see Knox." Ben took his wife's hand and they went over to his friend who exhaled when he saw them.

"Finally, y'all are here," Justin said kissing Miranda's cheek before shaking hands with Ben.

"This is really nice, Justin," Miranda told him sliding an arm around Ben's waist. He smiled. It had seemed like forever ago the three of them had been standing in Seattle Grace much like this. However, this time, he wasn't being driven mad by a woman who found him aggravating, but by his wife who was the love of his life.

"Thank you, Miranda."

Ben shrugged. "It's alright."

"You're a hater," Justin responded flipping him off.

They laughed. "I'm going to see Paige," Miranda commented.

"I'll be right behind you," Ben replied kissing the corner of her mouth. He watched her go, her hips bouncing as she made her way across the room. God, he couldn't wait until the night was over. He had big plans.

His friend dropped an arm on his shoulder. "How about a little meditation to kick off the night?"

"No, no," Ben laughed. "It's too early, right?"

The old friends looked at each other. "Sure. 'Too early'. I guess we should just get a drink."

At the bar, Ben exclaimed: "Damn. Twenty-five years?"

"I know. I know. How she hasn't smothered me with a pillow in my sleep is beyond me."

The two men gently knocked their glasses together. "It's wild that we have almost 40 years of marriage and five kids between us."

Justin put a hand to his chest. "Shit."

"I know!" Ben laughed as they surveyed the room. Justin's youngest daughter, Layla, was sitting at a table talking animatedly with Amaya. The girls had been best friends from the time they'd met. Daniel sat next to them playing his game. And Ben couldn't even get mad; he was the youngest person at the party. Angela and Alonzo were dancing along with some other couples. "We did good."

"We did." They talked a little more, reminiscing on their college days and their decades of friendship. "Been meaning to ask, do you have on makeup?"

Ben grinned. "Yeah, courtesy of your niece."

Justin nodded reaching for a napkin. "Looks good."

They clinked their drinks for a second time. "Thank you." Searching for his wife, he found her talking to one of their colleagues. She gave him a wave and her signature "come save me" gesture before turning her attention back to the guy. "I gotta go. Stanton is talking my wife to death."

Justin laughed and they left the bar going their separate ways. Getting to Miranda, he said: "Excuse me, Stanton, but I would be a careless soul if I didn't ask this beautiful lady for a dance." He held out his hand. "Ma'am, can I have this dance?"

Miranda's eyes darted between him and Stanton with a wicked look on her face. "I'm in the middle of a conversation and I barely know you, sir."

"Please," he said taking her hand.

"One dance," she replied and they headed to the center of the dancefloor. "Thank you. I owe you."

"I'm going to remember that," he said as they moved to the song pouring from the speakers. "I am feeling really nostalgic tonight."

"Yeah?"

"I can't stop thinking about the kids and us and how far we've come…" he sighed. "Do I sound crazy?"

She shook her head, placing it against his chest. "No, I don't think you do. We have a good story."

"I think so, too." Halfway through dinner, Justin gave him the signal to give his speech. Somewhat nervously, he stood up with hundreds of eyes staring at him. "Hello! I hope everyone is having a good time and enjoying their food."

"I am!" Ava said and others echoed their sentiment. Her precociousness had morphed into pure brilliance and it was a sight to behold.

"Listen to my goddaughter, y'all." He inhaled away from the mic. "A lot of you know me. I'm Ben and, uh, I remember being fresh out of high school and getting to college and meeting this man who quite literally changed the course of my entire life." Ben gritted his teeth. "I tell people that Justin is my best friend, and he is. But really… he's my big brother. And he has been for the last millennia." He couldn't really see any faces through the bright lights, but he heard the scattered chuckles. "Despite me being hardheaded, he's always been there for me and I can never thank him enough."

He switched the mic to his left hand. "So, one day, we go out to dinner and we see this gorgeous woman and I mean, look us." He gestured from himself to Justin. "I thought she was looking at me! I could have sworn she was looking at me!" The room laughed some more. "But I've never been happier to have been so damn wrong because they're perfect together."

He watched Justin and Paige kiss. "Because Paige is… phenomenal. Whenever I need solid advice, I go to Paigey and she gives it to me straight—"

"No chaser," Paige called out.

The entire room roared and he shook his head. "See what I mean?" He felt Miranda's eyes on him. "And together they created my two beautiful nieces, Ava and Layla."

"Awwww."

"But you all know that about them. How generous and caring and… fun they are. How they ride for you and do whatever they can to make sure that… you're good." Ben paused and looked down at his wife. "But my favorite thing about this beautiful couple, and this is going to sound a little selfish; but my favorite thing is that without them, I wouldn't have had this goddess by my side for the last fifteen years. And, for that…" He cleared his throat trying not to spill his guts or cry in front of everyone. "For that I am forever indebted."

He lifted his glass. "So, to Justin and Paige, I wish you two nothing but love and happiness. Twenty-five down, forever to go. Cheers."

"CHEERS!"

Justin stood up and walked over to Ben squeezing him forcing some tears. "Thank you, brother."

"No, thank you," Ben said patting his friend on the back. The rest of the evening was spent eating, laughing and dancing. He was so glad that his friends were happy. Sliding behind Miranda, he guided her out of the large banquet hall to their car.

"Where are we going, Benjamin Warren?" She asked, her southern twang slipping out momentarily. He held her waist, turning her until they were face-to-face. "Hi, my love."

He moaned softly. "Hey, baby." She pulled him down for a kiss. "I don't know if I've said it but you look gorgeous. And I want to see that dress up and over your head." He skimmed her thigh with one hand while the other went to her chin, pushing it up. Sometimes kissing Miranda took him back to their first one many moons ago when they were only falling for each other. Before true love became their official language. He hugged her, rubbing her back. Where would he be without her? The possibilities were so scary, he didn't even want to think about it.

"I love you," they said at the same time. Miranda and Ben cracked up.

"I know you do," they told each other, swaying to the leftover music they could hear leaking out of the building. He unlocked the car door.

"Mommy!" Amaya called out from the open door interrupting their moment. "Tuck's drinking!"

Tuck swung the other door open. "Auntie said me and Ava could have a little bit," he said. "You're aggy."

"And you're a drunk."

Miranda rolled her eyes, cursing underneath a smile as he laughed into her shoulder. "Rain check?"

He bit his bottom lip. "Rain check."