Ben continued to work feverishly, on the classic mustang to get it ready for the parade on New Year's Day. His deadline was days away but he wanted to keep busy, he need to keep busy, so he couldn't think about what day it was. Christmas Eve. He could hear the carolers in Horton Square and they were such a painful reminder to him that tomorrow would be Christmas and Ciara wouldn't be giving him the best Christmas ever like she promised last year when he was in Statesville. As he walked over to the bench with the tools he saw that Claire had called him for the ninth time for the day and left a ninth message on his phone. He rolled his eyes with part of him wishing he could block her number. He tightened a nut on the carburetor and wished Ciara was there to see the beauty he was working on and get a chance to marvel at the excellent condition it's owner kept it in. Ben was about to get the car polish for after he washed the car by hand, when he heard a voice behind him.
"Are you going to use a soft cheese cloth on it? Remember when you polish that baby slow and gentle. Take your time like you were making love. A car like that deserves extra special care."
"Douglas Williams your making the boy uncomfortable. No young man wants to hear that type out of talk out of the mouth of a man your age. Especially somebody's grandfather. Besides where did you learn about cars?" Julie chastised her husband.
"Mr. and Mrs. Williams, how are you? Is there something wrong with your car?" Ben turned to them immediately.
"It's Doug and Julie and our car is fine." Julie relayed, "Actually we're here to remind you that the party starts at eight and I hope you like duck rolls. It's some new craze I've been hearing about on television."
"Party?" Ben was perplexed by the elderly lady's mention.
"Yes, Dear. The Christmas Eve Party tonight. Hanging of the ornaments? Claire said she called to remind you and left messages but she hasn't heard from you." Julie advised.
Feeling slightly ashamed he responded, "I've been having problems with my phone lately. Missing calls and messages type of thing." Ben took a deep breath, "Thank you for the kind invitation but I don't think I'll be able to make it."
"Why? Have you got other plans?" Julie pressed.
"Julie. Can't you see…" Doug continued, "I understand Ben. I miss her too."
"Thank you Doug. I can't get her out of my head. I just wouldn't be too much of a bright spirit at the party. You all deserve better than that." He smiled slightly.
"It's not a sin to smile or live life again." Julie touched his shoulder, "She would want you to live a little. Exist. It doesn't mean you're forgetting about her or dishonoring her memory by feeling."
"I didn't know what life was until I met Ciara. She made me want to be a better person, a good man. Without her I'm just an empty shell." Ben stifled tears.
"You had a life Ben, Ciara only enhanced. She saw the good man you were, are. That's why she fell in love with you and wanted to spend her life with you." Doug choked back his own tears.
Julie saw and felt the emotion, and knew it was time to end the conversation and take Doug home, "Sweetheart, we're concerned about you. Even though Ciara is gone you are part of this family." She kissed Ben on the cheek, "Just think it over Ok?"
As Julie proceeded to leave Doug took Ben's hand in his, "Hoping to see you tonight. You can help me carve the roast beast." He saw Julie turn and give him a stern look, "I mean roast beef. Julie makes an unforgettable roast beef. Don't you Dear?"
Ben hid his snicker, "I'll try to make it. No promises."
As they departed he returned to the car unable to forget Doug's shaky voice as they both spoke about Ciara. He flashed back to an earlier call he received from Clyde.
9:15 AM as Ben arrived to the garage for work:
"Yes, I'll accept the call." Ben sighed hard, "Hey Dad. I'm not angry with you for escaping during the blackout. We're good. I forgive you."
"That's great but it's not stopping me from getting you a Christmas Gift." Clyde stated boldly.
"I'm not a kid anymore and I never believed in Santa Clause." Ben maneuvered to hold his phone and put his work shirt on.
"You did to. I'm sorry I'm the one who destroyed your belief in him." Clyde apologized, "Son, I've been using all my contacts and all my resources and one of them got me a copy of the investigation report into Ciara's death. I have studied that file over and over and Ollie, there are things that don't add up."
Ben was now beyond curious, "Like what?"
"You need to think hard on this. As hard as you can. When you and Hope and her son Shawn arrived, how did Vincent look. Think Boy, think real hard." Clyde cajoled.
Ben closed his eyes and thought real hard then proceeded with his description, "He was calm controlled. He was wearing a black, suit, with white shirt and turned and looked at us with a sinister smirk."
"You saying he was all clean?" Clyde pushed.
Yes, he was." Ben then remembered Vincent's exact words when he confessed Ciara's fate to him and Hope, "I shot her at point blank range." He then exploded, "Point blank range!"
"Exactly. Son if he shot her at point blank range then he would have been covered in blood from head to toe. He couldn't have cleaned himself up so fast and look immaculate." Clyde heard the other prisoner's pressing to use the phone, "I got to go son. I'll do some more digging on my side. Don't worry I'll get her home to you. Ciara has to be alive."
Ben returned to the present. What was he doing just standing there waiting for Clyde to call him and confirm if he found information on Ciara or not? He was her husband and it was his job to bring his wife home. To hell with what, Shawn said. Hope didn't give up that Ciara was alive and neither would he. He threw his work shirt on the bench, checked the garage thoroughly before he locked up and then jumped on Bo's bike. Since Ciara's abduction he had been riding the bike Bo left his daughter, to feel close to her. Ben had one destination in mind and come or hell or high water he was not leaving until he had answers.
Statesville Prisons Visiting Room
Vincent sat at the table calmly but became unnerved to see his visitor.
"Hello Vince." Ben's voice was cold and controlled.
"Mr. Weston. I'm surprised it took you this long to visit me. I heard stirrings of your presence today but I assumed it was to visit dear old Dad. I mean our business is complete."
"Not quite. It's far from over. I want the truth and no more game playing. Your story doesn't wash and you're not wasting my time anymore. Where is my wife, where is Ciara?" Ben growled.
"Let's say she were alive why should I tell you?" Vincent's eyes grew narrow.
"Why because deep down inside you were a good man until I made you the man you are today. I took Wendy from you Vincent. I didn't mean to and I will regret that day until the day I die. You took Ciara from me, you made a conscious decision to do that. You planned to inflict the greatest pain you could on me. To walk in your shoes. But you didn't only damn me. You damned those who loved her as well. Her mother, her brother, her grandparents. She was their world, just as much as she was mine and you took her from them. You were filled with rage from me taking Wendy. I know what that rage feels like because you are making me walk it now. A rage you feel when you have nothing left to lose." Vincent wasn't budging but Ben could feel his anger consuming him, "You're afraid to die Vincent I saw it in your face when we were at the airstrip. You wanted to tell me something when Shawn showed up. Shawn isn't going to come running to your rescue this time. What were you going to tell me?"
Vincent laughed, "The suspense is killing you. You want me to tell you she is alive don't you? I can tell you everything you want to hear or I can crush your dreams and hopes with two words. She's dead. I have the control Mr. Weston not you."
Ben clenched his fist and his eyes grew dark, "Actually Vincent I have the control. You think being locked up here with the guards you are safe? I served over a year and a half here for a crime I didn't commit. Those guards were bastards to me. When I left I sort reaffirmed to them they would owe me someday for what they did. It's Christmas Vincent don't make me ask them to collect on my favors owed." He saw Vincent swallow hard, "Accidents happen and sometimes go unnoticed."
"I can say you wouldn't dare but I have a feeling that wouldn't penetrate your mind." Vincent hedged.
"Ciara is my light. The only person that ever treated me like a person. I know Wendy was your light too. I took her from you. I'll never be able to forget that. Why I'm here isn't only about me but it's about the family that Ciara gave to me. I'll be able to go on with my existence. Survive. But her family doesn't deserve to pay for the crimes I committed. She doesn't deserve to pay for me, Vincent."
"Ending my life would give you peace?" Vincent looked Ben in his eyes, "You're not the devil that took Wendy anymore are you?"
"It will no longer be about me. Killing you if you really killed Ciara won't bring her back. I'll live with what I did like the others. But the difference is I won't have remorse. I'll know deep down inside I brought them some comfort hearing about your death. Please Vincent. Don't make her grandfather keep believing that dying will be something he'll be looking forward to when she's not there yet waiting for him." Ben bowed his head.
Vincent deliberated a long time, "I'll hate you till the day I die Mr. Weston. However, what I do is not for you. It's for her family. It's not fair that you get the life I wanted for Wendy and I. But I do see you are no longer the savage that took her away from me, the world. Ciara is alive. The house she's in is at 530 Maple Drive, close to the Evanston Border." He saw the skepticism in Ben's eyes, "It's the truth she's being held by a former colleague of mine."
Ben breathe hard, "Thank you."
Vincent watched as Ben hurried to exit and called out to him, "Mr. Weston our business is over now, we shall not see each other again, but there is one request I make of you. Wendy and myself dreamed of starting a family once we were married. We had fantasized of naming our first child if he were a boy James, after her late grandfather. I do hope you will consider that as the name for your first born son. You owe it to me. You owe it to Wendy."
Ben turned around and went back to Vincent and took his hand and shook it, "You have my word as a gentleman."
A few minutes later Clyde entered the visitors room and sat at the table where Vincent sat.
"Babysitting me, Mr. Weston?" Vincent asked nonchalantly.
"That and to say thank you. I was a lousy father to Ben, Belman and I'll do anything to make up all the wrong I've done him. For your sake I hope you're telling him the truth and not sending my son into another heartbreak or worse a trap."
"No, Clyde if I may. I'm telling the truth. I'm still enraged at your son but I do hope he and Ciara reunite and have a family someday. God knows there is a chance he'll be a better father than you."
The House on Maple Road
"I've had enough of your crap of trying to escape." The man threw the lunch bag at his captive.
"How about you let me out and you won't have to worry about that any longer." Ciara was defiant.
"If Vincent didn't give me strict orders not to harm you I would have gotten rid of you a long time ago. But keep it up and I might finally do myself a favor." The man threatened.
Rhodes was about to take Ciara's tray from her morning breakfast when he heard the door ell ring. He looked at his phone to see who was at the door on the surveillance camera. "What do you want?"
"Flower delivery." the man in his late forties and fading southern accent replied.
"Flower delivery? I didn't order any flowers or expecting any." Rhode answered annoyed.
"Isn't this 530 Maple Drive?" The delivery man relented.
"Yeah." Rhodes was beyond perturbed.
"Well these are for you, so come and get them." The delivery man rolled his eyes in disgust as he took an another hold of the flower arrangement he was holding.
"Let me get rid of this pest and then come back to maybe get rid of you." Rhodes slammed the door and locked it behind him.
Ciara noticed that Rhodes had forgotten to take her tray with him. She picked up the medal tray and smiled, "We'll see who will be getting rid of who. Thank you Jordan for your impulsive idea."
Ben snuck around the back of the house and jimmied the back door open quickly as Ray distracted Rhodes in the front of the house. He walked through the kitchen and saw the basement door.
"This seems like a good place to keep a hostage." He muttered and touched Ciara's guardian bell in his pocket and began to jimmy the door open. He worked quickly as he heard Ray and Rhodes arguing and grabbed the basement door once he opened it and headed down the stairs slowly.
Ciara heard the sound of man's footsteps coming down the stairs and prepared herself for her fight for freedom.
Ben saw the door to a room in the basement and tried the lock. He then began jimmying it open and once open gingerly turned the knob. As he opened the door and peered in slowly in the dark room and took a step inside he felt a weight come crashing on his head and fell to the ground.
Seeing her target drop to the ground Ciara shouted triumphantly, "Take that, you son-of-a bitch!" she then began to look through her hostage taker's pockets and felt the guardian bell. She took the bell in her hand and though it was dark, was shocked seeing it, "This looks familiar. A guardian bell. Scrutinizing it more. This is my bell. How did he get it?" she then heard the vibration of a phone and grabbed it out of the unconscious man's pants pocket. Seeing her and Ben's picture of a time from when they were first dating on the lock screen, Ciara wasn't noticing the call from Rafe coming in. She quickly turned the unresponsive man over and though barely able to see his face shrieked, "Ben! No! Baby, no!"
Ciara heard the quick footsteps of a man coming down the stairs and began to momentarily panic but then heard him call out.
"Ben, I took care of that guy. Did you find Ciara?" Ray turned the light on outside the door and entered the room and found Ben lying on the ground and the bloody tray next to him. He then looked at Ciara, "Uh, oh."
University Hospital
Rafe was updating Shawn by phone, "Yeah Belman gave Ben Ciara's whereabouts and he and one of Clyde's associates went over there to get her. When I arrived the guy was in the wind but he tied up this Rhodes guy pretty good so Eli is processing him now. I ran into Xander when they brought Ben in and he's calling Victor. "he saw Doug and Julie arrive, "I'll call you back Shawn your grandparents just arrived. I left a few messages for your Mom and texted her. Hopefully she calls back soon but text and call her again for me. Thanks." Rafe disconnected and ran towards Doug and Julie.
"Hey. You guys made it."
The older couple stared at Ciara as she sat at Ben's bedside.
"It's really her? Our girl?" Doug's voice was filled with emotion.
"Yeah, Kayla checked her out and gave her the all clear to sit with Ben. Sarah said he has a pretty bad concussion but should be ok." Rafe smiled as they walked into Ben's room.
"Ciara!" Doug cried as he took his granddaughter in his arms as she ran to him.
"Grandpa!" she held on to Doug tight as she hugged him.
"Our girl is home. "Julie exclaimed then hugged both of them.
They stepped back and noticed the change in Ciara's and smiled.
"This is the best Christmas ever!" Doug screamed. He then looked at an unconscious Ben, "Thank you, grandson. Thank you for bringing Ciara home." He kissed Ben on the forehead and began to usher Julie out to give them some privacy.
Julie opened her purse and took out a box and put it on the table by Ben's bed. She then opened it and took out its contents. "We'll be back in a few minutes but we'll be hanging this tonight on the tree."
Ciara continued her vigil by Ben's bedside and smiled broadly as she felt him squeeze her had. Ben's eyelids fluttered and then he gently opened his eyes. Looking at his wife and for a moment was perplexed then asked, "Ciara is it really you? I can feel your hand."
"Yes, my loving husband it's me. It's us." She put his hand on her slightly bulging stomach.
As Ben got his bearings he was in awe, "A baby? A little baby?'
"Our little Baby, Ben. He or she has kept me company this entire time. "she continued to rub his hand against her belly. "I love you so much. We love you so much."
Ben noticed her naked finger. He then moved his hand by his neck and was in horror as he couldn't find his chain.
"Looking for these?" Ciara held up the chain, "Sarah gave them to me to hold on to. She took them off of you when you were brought in and they started working on you. I'm so sorry I hit you Baby I thought you were the creep that was holding me."
Ben extended his hand for the rings, "Give'em here Babe so I can out those back on your finger." As he was about to put her rings back on he noticed the box on the table from Julie.
"What's that?' he questioned her.
"That my Dear will be hanging on the tree tonight." Ciara took out the box's contents.
Ben looked at the ornament and was in awe, "No, way!"
"Way. It's yours Baby. Ben."
A Year Later
"And that's how Daddy saved Christmas little man." Ciara took the baby boy out of his play pen after telling him the Weston Christmas Story.
Ben walked up behind her and gave her a kiss by her neck. " The car is packed with gifts and gingerbread cookies. Hope everyone likes my Mom's recipe. I made them the way her and Jordan used to."
"They will love them. The baby's things all ready to go?" she cuddled the inquisitive seven month-old child.
"Yep, diaper bag already. All we need is you and him and it's off to Christmas Eve fun." He extended his arms to her.
Ciara gave the baby to Ben and then turned to the sofa to get his coat. Ready Baby for your first Christmas Eve Party at Grandma and Grandpa's. "
They dressed the child and themselves and then put him in his carrier and head out the door.
By the wall hung the three Christmas stockings with their names in green glitter. Ciara, Ben and Baby James.
MerryCinmas!