2012

A/N: This chapter is from the point of view of Ben. That's all I really have to say. Enjoy!

"And now, our first 'guest speaker' if you will, is Ben Boykewich, a close family friend," Ricky said as a polite applause sounded through the lawn.

"Um, hi everyone. Most of the Underwood family knows me as Uncle Ben, and I love being called Uncle Ben, but I didn't always have that title. As Ricky and Amy said before, Amy and I used to date. Then, after we had one of our breakups, I made a lot of stupid mistakes. And because of my stupid mistakes, Ricky and Amy decided to try going out. And mostly from there, the rest is history. But, I'm not really up here to talk about me or Ricky and Amy; I'm here to talk about John. So John, I'm not sure if you know this, but I think of myself as being the reason you and your family moved out here to New England/New York Area—yes, you can thank me later—in the first place…"

Ben believed it to be nature taking its revenge for him drinking all that beer last night that he saw them. And not just any them, but a certain Ricky and Amy "them". Why is Amy even coming to school at 11:15 anyway? That doesn't seem in her character—she's too sweet and nice. Or she was too nice before Ricky came and did…well we all know what HE did. And shouldn't HE be at his own school anyway? Being super smart of whatever…

Anyone, and everyone, could tell Ben was at a bit of a loss in his life: he wasn't focusing very well in school, he didn't have much of a social life, and Bunny was constantly making him do remedial jobs so that he could learn 'what would happen if you weren't my boss' son and you showed up to work hungover'. And since his baby girl had died a little over a year ago, and he split from Adrian (his ex-wife for God's sake) a little less than a year ago, no one could really blame him. But then, perfect little Amy and perfect little Ricky have to come along and be so damn happy all the time and it drives me up a wall. I mean, even though he goes to college the two of them are still happy together. Just as Ben began to think about how the two of them used to be people he enjoyed to hang out with—well, he enjoyed hanging out with Amy—he realized that the two of them were not being their usual happy selves. In fact, they seemed to be arguing. Ben, being the curious Grant High student that he was, began to listen in.

"Amy, you got into a good school in New York! We both wanted to go to New York and now we have a chance to!" Ricky said in a quiet tone.

"But I don't want to have to leave my family. I mean, I know most people are dying to grow up and move away for college, but I've already done that! I mean, I'm engaged, I live with my boyfriend, and I have a baby for God's sake! And my parents have been helpful, and I just don't know if we could really live across the country from them." Amy responded. She seems sad about this. Does she even want to go to New York? I thought they both liked it here.

"But they could come and visit. Or we can visit them? Look, I don't want you to worry about this anymore right now; it's just something to think about. And I've been talking to some people in the administrative office who deal with transfers and stuff, and I've even applied to a couple of places." Amy looked a bit shocked at this confession. And she should be, considering that she thought that only the counselor knew until this morning that she had even applied to a college in New York.

"Wait," Amy asked, "how did you know that I was applying to this place in the first place? I mean, I know I had talked about it once or twice, but—wait, did you tell the counselor that I had wanted to apply there and that's why she told me to apply there?" Ricky smiled and nodded meekly and Amy gave him a bit of a glare. "Why? Actually, don't answer that question right now, I have to get to my next class, free period is almost over." Amy said. The two said a quick goodbye, exchanged 'I love yous' and went on there way. So Amy actually wants to go to New York. And then, if Ricky goes with her, maybe my dad will stop treating me like a baby because Ricky won't be around anymore. I should just to make sure that they go to New York. Hey, maybe this could actually be a good plan.

Later, after school had ended and worked had begun; Ben continued to think over his plan. Ricky is coming in late today because he has some meeting with some one in Management, so maybe I can just spring the idea on him when he gets here. Yea, the element of surprise. So, as decided by Ben's plan, when Ricky walked through the door, Ben sprang the idea on him. "Hi Ricky. How have you been?" Ben said in his usual sarcastic tone.

"Um, fine I guess. Listen, can you tell Bunny that I'm not actually going to be at work for the rest of the day? I just came to stop by really quickly and tell her, but I can't seem to find her. So, next time you see her, can you tell her that John has a doctor's appointment and Amy can't take him to it? Thanks Ben, and I guess I'll see you tomorrow," and he was gone. Well that whole plan went well.

"Um Ben? As much as you think we need the back-ground for the main part of the story, we don't actually. So can you sort of just skip to the juicy part?" Ricky asked, smirking.

"You just want to get to the next story because you like it, don't you?" Amy asked, smirking right back. You know, I'm surprised that no one really noticed this type of arguing in high school: I mean, they argue ALL THE TIME now (but it's mostly just a constant stream of foreplay) and they used to argue ALL THE TIME back then. Maybe they did have THOSE kinds of feelings for each other all along.

"But I'm sure John is very interested in this part of the story!" Ben said looking at John, who smiled fakely. "Ok fine. I'll get on with it."

Later that evening—after Ben had collected some beer from a store where they knew he that he used a fake I.D., but didn't really seem to care—Ben was starting to get drunk. And when he got drunk he started to think about all his previous girlfriends. Ok, maybe it was only three different girls; but each had had significance. First, he thought of the most recent: Dylan. Dylan was a brief summer romance that actually made him feel like a teenager again; not some thirty-five year old stuck in a teenager's body (with teenage hormones included). Then there was Adrian, who Ben really thought more of as an affair then anything else. He had cheated on Amy with Adrian to begin with, and that's what started this whole entire big thing. Then, of course, he thought about Amy. His first love. They say that no one can really forget their first love, and Ben agreed completely with that statement.

"Hey, that's Mom you are talking about! And last I checked, she was married to Dad. And last I checked," God, Amy and Ricky were right: that really is her absolute favorite thing to say, "Dad could still 'take you down with his moves' as he puts it," Emily finished proudly, not fully understanding the context of what she had said. Ben heard a muffled chortle from John's parent's direction, and glimpsed yet another moment shared by Ricky and Amy.

"Well, I don't feel THAT way anymore Em," Ben started, "it's just that I liked your mom for a long time after we broke up. Now can I get back to the story?"

And he missed her. Even though she was pregnant while they were dating, she was innocent. And she was a goody-goody. Not that he minded. He did remember that he always had to remind himself that she was pregnant; it just seemed so out of her character. God, why did I let her go again? You slept with Adrian, right. Now that Ben had had a few drinks, he was fully starting to "clear" his mind. Maybe I should go see her. I mean, I saw her today at school, but it didn't really count. Maybe I should go see her and talk to her. Yea, I think I'm going to go do that.

And so off he went. Since he worked in the butcher shop—and his dad owned the whole company—he had a key into the building. After fiddling with the lock for a little (he was drunk after all), he finally got it to open. Stumbling into the building, he headed for the stairs. Taking them by two, on average, he made it to the door and knocked: loudly. "May I help—OMG BEN! Are you ok? Here come in! Ricky, we have a slight problem…" Amy said, sounding frightened. Why does she have to bring Ricky into the mix? He's just going to make the conversation difficult.

"Ames, I was just reading the good—Oh, I see—here, have him sit on the couch. Ben, are you ok? You don't look to good. In fact, you will want to keep your eyes open for as long as possible. Amy, I'm going to get him cold water, can you make sure he stays awake?" Amy nodded. Why do they two of them sound so freaked out? I'm a little tired, maybe if I just close my eyes for a little while…and he was gone.

Although he wasn't in a state of consciousness, he remembered having some sort of weird dream. It involved Ricky and Amy, who seemed to be in a lot of his dreams lately. Although he would never have been able to tell anyway what they had said once he came back to consciousness, he knew exactly what they were saying in his state of rest.

"Amy, this is like the sixth time in the past two weeks that he's come to our apartment. I mean, I feel awful for him, and Leo wants me to look out for him, because he's really worried, but I just can't deal with this anymore."

"I know, I understand. I mean, we have been talking about the two of us going to college in New York, and maybe this is just—I don't know. A sign? I may sound like I'm completely changing my whole view on this, but maybe New York could be good for us. I mean, it would take a lot of getting used to, but I think we could do it. The three of us. We've made it through some crazy times together. And this would just be another adventure, I guess."

"You know, I was talking to Leo this afternoon," Ricky started, before Amy interrupted him.

"You mean your meeting with management?" Ricky nodded. "Oh. Continue."

"And he was thinking of expanding the company anyway. And he was thinking that I could work in management in the New York branch he's opening up. And he told me that, well, he was sort of just opening it for me. Well, for us. So we could go out there and have at least one job already." Amy looked shocked, as anybody would be. I mean, for a man of a big business company to open a branch just for your small family? It was the greatest gift anyone could offer.

"OMG, Ricky that's amazing! That's…I don't even know where to begin! Well then I'll go talking to guidance counselor tomorrow! I can't believe it! WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO TO NEW YORK!" Ben heard a silence after this; but, because of his state of mind, did not think of it for what it actually was.

After when Ben woke up the next morning on top of a pile of blankets and pillows in the hallway, completely oblivious to what had happened in the last 18 hours (since about four the previous afternoon), he returned into the apartment, summoned by the smells of breakfast. "Good morning Ben!" Ricky said in a genuinely happy, yet very loud, voice. Why is he so happy? I, for some reason, was outside his apartment, and by the smells of it, I passed out here last night. "I called your dad this morning, told him you came to our place again. I also told him our other big news, but we'll tell you that later. Why don't you sit down with John," who gazed up at Ben with a smile on his face, "and eat some breakfast? You must be hungry."

"And so began the friendship of Ben and Ricky," Ben concluded.

"Thank you Ben for that, most interesting, part of the story," Ricky said. "I would also like to say that this was the first time that John and Ben really started to get along and now, as most of you can tell, John and his siblings admire their 'Uncle Ben' deeply. This also is the first time, but definitely not the last, that Amy and I felt more like Ben's parents then his friends. I mean, we fed him breakfast!"

"But, anyway, this story was definitely important to tell and thank you Ben for volunteering to go first. And I know that this wasn't a story that showed your brightest moment, but it was an important moment in our lives," and Ricky and Amy smiled yet again to each other.

A/N: Ok, so this one doesn't have as much John as it's supposed to, but you should get the point. And I'm sorry for all those Ben fans out there, and I usually love Ben (I actually love the guys on the show. And that's it.), but he's been acting really stupidly lately (but it's the slightest bit understandable) and so, in my world, that's been taken to a bit of an extreme (read Three Christmassers to understand this theory more—see what I did there? I promoted my own work for further reading! I feel so professional), I think it works. Anyway, comments and stories for ages 13 and 14 are still greatly appreciated!

Also, a sneak peak at Chapter 5: Amy and Ricky's first fight that John tells them to stop (And no, it's not going to be them fighting every other chapter, it's just a coincidence)