Chapter#2

Twenty minutes later Ben walked back into the bedroom carrying a quart of strawberry ice cream in his right hand and the bowl with the tater tots in his left. As he sat back on the bed he was met with two very serious looks.

"Sorry about the delay I was making the taters nice and crispy and I grabbed the quart in case you might want to join me." The semi frosty stares continued, "Ok, I'm guilty but can you clue me in on what I did. Oh, side note for eight weeks old she has your look when you're trying to hide you're pissed off."

Ciara's mouth dropped slightly in astonishment, "I am not pissed off." She then glanced at Bobcat, "However I can't speak for her. Ben Weston, what are you hiding from us? And don't say nothing. I saw you were so far away in thought before your banquet planning. "

He started nibbling on one of the potato ball, "Well. I've been thinking about what you said, and how once we tell everyone Bobbie's real name we'll have to explain why we chose her name and maybe they won't see it as beautiful as we do." Ben ran his index finger against the baby's left cheek gently, "It was such a special night. We didn't know if it would be our last night together until…...you know we saw each other again on the other side. I was so angry at you for putting yourself in jeopardy like that helping me escape Statesville yet at the same time so grateful to see you and hold you in my arms, praying it wouldn't be for the last time."

"Valentine's Day. You said, all you had as a gift to give me was your love. "Ciara started to cradle their precious baby girl in her arms, "You had no idea you'd be giving me a gift I never knew I would want so much or love so wholeheartedly. Ben, I never thought I'd ever be a mother. Especially after what Chase did to me. Finding love with you has been more than I could ask for or even dream about. When we found out I was pregnant after you proposed, the only thing that came to mind was how did I not know? Not was I ready to be a mom, not the wedding, not Titan and would I continue to work there or be a stay at home mom, but our baby and how I couldn't wait for our child to be born and get to hold it and love it."

Ben bit down on his bottom lip, "After I was institutionalized at Shady Hills then Bayview I felt my entire life was over. Selfish at first, right? I always wanted to have family, a wife, kids. No matter what I went through with Clyde, I always wanted my dream and I was someday going to make it happen." He looked down for a minute, paused and for a minute felt ashamed, "I thought I had that with Abby. I thought that was going to be my happy ending. Then little by little I saw it start to slip away. Abby with Chad was one of the factors that caused me to lose my grip on reality." He felt his heart heavy, "No matter how much therapy I've had or will ever have I still can't believe I…..." he started to weep softly.

Ciara found herself momentarily conflicted. It always hurt her deeply hearing Ben speak of his past and the pain it caused him. But things felt slightly different now as she held Bobbie closer. In the past it was just the two of them dealing with his past. Now they had a child. What would her future be like? She was a baby now but when she grew up she'd someday have questions about why people looked at Daddy sometimes funny. Or whisper behind his back or were deliberately cruel to him? Suppose they had more children? How would they react hearing about daddy's past? When would it be the right age to tell them? She felt Bobcat start to squirm as she appeared to be staring at Ben. Did she sense her Daddy was upset?

Ciara saw Ben wipe a few tears from his left cheek and inched closer to him. She then handed him the baby.

"Hey, a certain baby wants her Papa to hold her. "

Ben took his daughter and cradled her in the crook of his right arm. He then started to brush the bottom of her feet gently, "Hey, Little Lady aren't you tired yet? You had a pretty active day."

"Baby, I know you never forget your past that's what I love about you. Your honesty and compassion and always wanting to do the right thing." She leaned in and kissed him on his right cheek, unable to reach his lips comfortably, "You've worked and fought so hard. Here is your redemption. Our daughter. The sweetest, most loving baby in the world. You helped make her Ben and she is the one who with your guidance will do so many things and bring joy and happiness to others. All the good you have done since you have returned to Salem is in her. Baby, it's time you make peace with yourself and enjoy your happy ending. You deserve it." Ciara was finally able to rest her head on his shoulder.

He bounced Bobbie slightly in his arm, "Thank you. Thank you so much Babe, for loving me so much and always being my anchor." Ben then turned his head slightly and leaned down and kissed Ciara's lips tenderly.

As her parents reluctantly pulled back, Bobcat started to reach for Ciara's engagement.

"Look at you, you like Mama's ring?" she held her daughter's tiny fingers.

"You really, lived up to your promise of never taking, Madame Washer off." Ben chuckled.

"I love this ring, Ben. I know you still think of the one you were going to give me for our wedding but look how this one worked out. I have my wedding ring which is beyond important and if I had another ring, I'd probably have to take it off, so it wouldn't scratch the baby. This one has smooth edges."

"And one day she'll grow up and wonder why her Daddy was such a loser that he couldn't afford to get Mommy a proper ring."

Ciara was stern at first, "No, she is going to hear the story of this ring and learn about her grandfather Bo." she then softened, "And the wonderful guy her Daddy is and how when he first found Mommy he listened to her intently and remembered how her own Daddy meant so much to her, that he made sure that his bike didn't meet the scrap yard."

"You know when Jake saw the parts I needed for the bike when I first met him, he was impressed at it being a classic." Ben felt proud, "I really hope I do right by your Dad's bike care wise. I mean I'd like to think he'd see at least something positive about me."

Ben noticed his daughter yawn slightly and smiled optimistically. He then began to whisper, "I think someone is starting to get sleepy."

Ciara displayed a broad smile but then to both their chagrin, Bobcat yawned subtly and then opened her eyes widely.

"It seems she recovered quickly from her state. She looks like a college kid on spring break." Ciara sat up more straight on the bed. "Ben, this isn't good for her. She needs to sleep more at night."

Ben cuddled her closer to his chest and looked directly at her, "Baby Girl you need to sleep. You can't go on like this; I'm pleading with you. Me and Mommy need some sleep too." He saw Bobcat close her eyes for under thirty seconds then reopen them. "Oh, she's wired Babe. I got nothing."

"I can see it now. This girl is going to have you wrapped around her little finger when she grows up." Ciara made a face at her husband.

"The way you have Victor and your Uncle Roman." Ben playfully made a face back at his wife.

"I think we need to postpone our date for tonight. Upset Honey?" Ciara coyly started to pout at him.

He paused for a moment teasingly, "No. I know our little Pumpkin Baby needs to come first."

"I just don't want you to feel you're coming in second." Ciara decided to lay on her left side and rest her head on the pillow.

"Never. I have the two best women in my life and both of them make me feel like a won the lottery." He looked at Bobcat and kissed the fingers on her little left hand. "We need to clip your nails or people will think that's the reason we named you Bobcat."

Ciara laughed and threw her head back, "Maybe they should have carried her in their belly. The minute she first started to move was one thing, but when she started to kick, oh, man. It was like she couldn't get comfortable in there."

"I remember every time I tried to sneak a kiss from you she would kick you so hard, I felt it in my gut." Ben looked down at the baby who seemed to start to doze against his chest. He then began to whisper again, "It was definitely like you were carrying a bobcat inside you just itching to get out."

"Arriving at thirty-seven weeks definitely proved that." Ciara, looked over and could see Bobbie was definitely asleep now, "I guess we bored her to sleep." She moved closer to Ben and could hear their baby snoring lightly, "Yep she's definitely asleep. Dare I go get her Moses basket?"

Ben felt her wiggle subtly in her sleep and curl her tiny fist against his right breast, "I wouldn't, too risky in waking her to put her in it."

Ciara became concerned, "Baby, how long can you keep in that position? What about sleep?"

Ben winced a bit feeling a slight pain in his neck from resting it on the wood head board, "she should wake in an hour maybe two once my stomach puts in a suggestion for food and gurgles."

Ciara reached over and put a pillow behind his head, "The sacrifices you make to be a good Daddy?"

Ben pulled Ciara close to him as she lay by his side and rested her head again on his shoulder, "No, sacrifice is too big when you are the father of Valentine Alice Weston."