Ben was on the porch waiting with Gramps. Ben was frowning, arms crossed and clearly ready to tear into me. Gramps was looking casual, hands in his pockets as he rocked on his feet and watched the dark. I landed in the drive, already striding for the porch with an annoyed look.

Ben frowned even more as he took in my attire, landing making the dress flare up to show the unders. I didn't bother with it, skirt falling into place a few steps forward.

"What are you wearing?"

"A dress," I cut, not ready for his snapping at me.

He blocked my path by standing at the top of the stairs before me. I didn't even go up the steps, stopping at the bottom to look up at him. He was clearly upset as he looked over my face and attire.

"What kind of work requires that?"

"It is a flattering dress," Gramps intones, inclining his head.

I beam at him, hands smoothing at the skirt. "Thank you, Gramps. Found it on sale by work."

"Any problems?" He was clearly trying to ease this a bit.

"No. Thankfully. Got enough done in the daylight hours. Then stuck around to get caught up with Ginger."

"And the dress?" Ben pushed that one in.

My hands slip to my waist, standing proudly. "She mentioned low tips and the low flow. I went down the way for the dress and used some of my stuff left at the bar to get dressed up. Get a better crowd in like I usually do. Help get her tips."

His lips pressed thin. I roll my eyes, looking to Gramps. "Everything alright on this end?"

"As it has been for days."

I was turned a bit to face him more so than Ben. "Well, honestly I'm starting to wonder if this is something I'm needed here for. I thought this was a bigger problem, but nothing's happening."

"It could be a good thing," he responds.

"I'm not saying it isn't. Just…" I huff a breath, glancing out at the trees. "I'm really behind on work. And I can't just drop everything, the world is still going on out there. I mean, I can't even go out to get some work done without getting nagged until I get home. I just can't do that."

"The nagging?" Gramps asks with a small twinkle in his eyes.

I crack a grin, hips cocking as I look to him. "Oh, I can do that. I'm just not the sort to be fussed over. Have people nagging at me, hounding my every step."

"It's dangerous out there," Ben cuts in. "How are we not to worry?"

My eyes close, head lowering as I took in a slow breath. "Gramps, can I have some time with Ben?"

He nods, glancing over the yard before moving to sit on the swing. I glance to Ben, nodding toward the dark yard. He crossed the space quickly, hand placed low on my back to help lead me along. I didn't argue, both of us stopping where Gramps could see us and not hear us.

Ben pulled his hand away, glowering down at me. "You've had his blood."

I scoff, arms crossing as I roll my eyes before looking back up at him. "Hardly the first time, Ben. I was famished and nearly attacked him. What's it matter?"

"You are mine," He seethes as he bends to put his face near mine. I saw those fangs.

My own were snapped out, not backing down as my eyes glowed out at him.

"I'm not an item, Ben," I snarl. "Let's make that clear now."

My finger jabbed out at his chest, nail shy of touching. He searched my eyes angrily. I'm not sure if he was letting me get my anger out, seeing where this went, or thinking, but it was my opening.

"I may have been raised by a vampire and know how all that works, but don't you forget that I'm not some pet. I'm my own person. It was just feeding and talking. I've bypassed all this jealousy I've been getting from you because I know I'm a shitty person. But I've given you no reason to doubt me."

I let out a breath, glancing away to try to calm some. "Let me be up front. I'm a woman who lives to the fullest, Ben. I usually drink like a college kid at a frat party. I flirt like people breath. I love parties all night long." My eyes meet his. "And I'm coming to understand that it's mostly just living life by the seat of my pants. And I know that's something genetically ingrained in me.

"I'm not going to just become this house wife or meek woman who just sits at home all day and night. Yes, before you I mostly slept around. I made games of flirting with people at the bar to make out with them and ditch 'em. I'd even make games to lure them in for Pam or Eric. And I've stopped that." My hands motion wide. "I've stopped all of that. I've mostly cut off talking with my boss and friends because of you."

He stood tall, looking down his nose at me as if he knew what was coming. I pulled in a breath, standing tall myself.

"They are my friends. And I wont be blinded into just ditching them because some man isn't happy with it. I won't ditch them because he's jealous and doesn't like who I choose to have in my life." I meet his eyes firmly. "Just as I wont choose between family. I care for them. Just as I care for you, Ben. But my choice is clear."

His head lifts, hands high on his hips as he seems to work his jaw to hold back something. One hand lifts to run down his face. I wasn't able to decidedly pin point what was going through his mind. I wasn't able to pick up if he was mad or upset or anything else. Those eyes turned back to look at me, searching for something or other as that hand rested over his lower face. Studying something or other.

I looked back, waiting. The hand lowers, tongue licking his lips. There was a tight control to it.

"That's your choice?"

I huff, arms snapping up to glower at him. The demon side slipped away quickly after glancing to the side, rolling my lower jaw to rid the feeling of the teeth. Glancing back, I met his gaze head on.

"Look. I really like you, Ben. Honestly think I may love you, but I'm not abandoning who I am and those I care for."

"Prove it."

I blink, a bit startled. "Sorry?"

He nods once, sort of a jerk as his hands go to his hips again. "Prove it. Prove you love me."

I blink, floundering as my eyes search his face then the ground in desperate thought. What? How could I just- His hand lofts out into my vision, palm up. Gramps and the house were forgotten. I stared at the hand.

Slowly, my narrowed focus slid up to his face. Those features weren't that handsome Southern boy. There was just a hint of change to it, far more thought behind those usually kind and smiling eyes.

"Ben?"

Nothing was said, hand unwavering in the space between us. I loosen, ready to act, but mostly floored on what to do.

"What do you mean?"

"Prove you love me, Faelyn Mary Lynwood."

I felt something in me tighten at the use of my full name. My lips parted, searching his eyes.

"That doesn't help a thing, Ben," I whisper, a hint sad.

His eyes looked right to mine. "Do you love me?"

It was blunt, point blank with a force behind it. My lips open and close a few times, sucking in a breath.

"I-I..Yes. Yes I do."

"Prove it," he forces out in almost a growl. This was the most forceful I'd seen him.

My gaze flicked between his eyes, searching for what he really wanted. Searching for a clue of what was going through his mind. A clue of what he planned. And it felt like a crush on the heart that he wouldn't believe me.

"Ben-"

The hand shifts pointedly firmer into my space. I jerk a bit, startled enough to look to it shy of touching me. Taking a long slow breath, I lift my smaller, paler hand to hover over his, ready to touch. A long, slow breath is taken in and out, glancing back up to his gaze. He was still, waiting.

My hand closed the space, fingers curling to grasp his hand. His hand gripped tight. Light started in his hand, my own flesh reacting to it as it did during sex. I didn't look down to the hands, looking right at his eyes.

"Faelyn?"

I could hear that swing creak, his steps harder as he moved for the steps. But I didn't look, head tilted back to look up at Ben. His other hand came out, curving along my face. I felt the warm tingle there as I did my hand. Light emanating there as well.

He leaned in, gaze unblinking.

"Prove it, Faelyn."

I gasped, heat surging as all my urges burst forth in one rush. One painful rush like when I'd started the shifts. I jerked, staggering into him. My mouth opened wide, heart beating wildly with a panic. The light was darker from my side, darkness tenting it with his far brighter. But his almost hurt with my demon side out.

The cry echoed across the yard, head tossing back with my teeth exposed and that light spreading over us. Then there was nothing more.

Author's note: So, I'd honestly sort of let this lay to the side for a long while. I'd taken a review to heart and thought to start one for OC/Ben. And... like four starts later I'm still unsure how I want that to go, so no hopes up there, please. But I've found I was stagnating it by forcing writing. So, I'm reading over each as I post it, changing things I want changed.

I'd hoped and loved the idea of a Halloween episode as a side shot...but I'm like...so far ahead of on here and it would...Yeah I have to like do a lot of focus on making sure I don't put this or that in that isn't in till later. So, let me get till the weekend for that. Any wants for that one? Wanting to do a bit of a Side Shots chapter. I'm more than willing to do suggestions. But I'm finally just biting the bit and putting out what I have.