A/N: So we're looking at about 17 chapters or so, and I really hope you'll stick around for them. Without further distractions here's another chapter! Enjoy!

Benny's Baby

Chapter 5: But Words Will Always Hurt Me

"I would totally make a great dad!" said Rory as he looked between Ethan and Benny. Both of them gave him a strange look and then shook their heads in unison. "If Benny can be a dad, then I totally could too."

"It's not easy," mumbled Benny as he opened his chocolate pudding. "It's really hard."

You have a baby now, how can you just sit there and say nothing?

"But I'm a vampire, and that makes everything easier!"

"Vampires can't have kids," said Ethan. "It's biologically impossible."

"Wait why?" asked Rory as he looked at them suddenly concerned.

"You have no DNA, at all. Vampires are like whiteout, their lack of a genetic code wipes anything with a genetic code. So even if you fell in love with a human you couldn't have a kid, you can't create a new life without genetics, it's not possible."

"So then I'll never be a parent… And neither will Erica, or Sarah."

"No," said Ethan quietly, he seemed to be staring past Rory now. "She'll never be a parent."

"Does she know?"

"Yeah, she knows."

"But with magic you never know," said Benny trying to break the sullen mood. "I mean if I created Eric then anything's possible right?"

How can you be ok with that?

"What does Eric have to do with anything? He's your son…." Rory's voice trailed off for a moment as he looked down at the table. Then he suddenly looked up; it was as if a light bulb had gone on in his head. "Wait! Blonde hair… blue eyes…."

Before he could put it together Della approached their table. Benny said nothing and tried his best to disappear into his chair as she looked at him. It was their first physical contact since, what they now referred as 'the incident'.

"Hey Della," said Ethan trying to prevent the awkward silence before it began. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if I could talk to Benny," She looked away trying to conceal the sudden blush on her face.

"Me?" asked Benny incredulously. "Me, Benny Weir?"

"Yeah," she focused her glance on everything but him. "Can we talk can in private?"

"I-I guess, sure." He got up and followed her into the hallway. Before the door swung shut behind him he casted one final look back and watched as both Ethan and Rory raised their hands in confusion. Once they were alone in the hallway Della stopped, and Benny cleared his throat awkwardly.

"So, I guess this is where I say I'm sorry about… your… dog."

She smiled. "It's ok; Rory told me how you and Ethan were trying to help, he told me you were trying to find me a few dog."

"Yeah, new dog... let's go with that."

"But that's not why I'm here; I saw you and Erica arguing yesterday, in fact the entire's schools been talking about it."

"Wow, that's really kind of embarrassing now that I think about it."

"I know you hang out with her a lot, but if she's being mean to you then maybe you shouldn't be around her anymore."

"It's sort of this thing we do," said Benny trying his best to describe their friendship. "It's hard to explain."

"You don't need to create excuses for her," said Della as she looked into his eyes for the first time. "I've been bullied by Erica too, so I know how she can make a person feel. She says these mean things that get inside your head, and she'll make you doubt yourself. I just wanted you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to about it, I'm here."

Are you stupid or something?

"Really? T-Thanks." This time it was Benny who looked away with a blush across his face. The lunch bell went off and students began to fill the hall. "So I guess I'll see you around?"

"Yeah," said Della as she turned to leave. "I'll see you around."

He watched as she vanished into the hall, and felt better about himself.

"What was that all about?" asked Ethan as he approached him. "I thought she never wanted to talk to you again."

"Nah I talked to her about that," said Rory. Benny noticed the pudding smudges across his face and gave him a look. "Don't worry your pudding went to a place where it was loved."

"She wanted to talk to me about Erica," said Benny as he thought about what she has said. "She actually gave me some good advice. Anyway I can't be late to class, so I'll see you guys later."

Once the last school bell sounded Benny ran to his locker, no sense in keeping his son and Grandma waiting. He mentally ran through his list of homework, if he planned things right then he would be done with enough time to play with Eric. He was about to turn around the corner when he heard familiar voices talking. He carefully peered around the corner, and saw Erica talking with Rory.

"So Benny really created a baby?" asked Erica as she leaned against the locker. "A real live baby?"

"Uh-huh," said Rory as he began to pull various items from his locker. "He's actually really cute, looks like Benny except for the hair and eye color."

"How irresponsible can he get?"

"What do you mean?"

"Rory a baby is a big responsibility. I mean you just don't make a kid. That should be something that's discussed over a long period of time. You should wait until you're older and married, or at least have someone your happy with before you even consider a child. He's lucky he has magic and an understanding grandma or he'd be like any other teenager out there."

"You can be really mean," said Rory as he pulled Vampire Sasquatch out of his locker. "Here it is. Eric will love this guy."

"I'm not being mean, I'm being honest. I can't imagine having my own kid right now. We're not even out of high school yet. He's going to be a terrible father; nothing good can ever come from being a teenage parent. My parents would be so ashamed of me if I had done something like this, imagine what his Grandma must think."

Benny couldn't take it anymore. He quickly ran past, doing is best to avoid eye contact. Rory waved to him, but stopped when he recognized his friend's saddened expression.

"You know he might surprise you," said Rory as he turned his back on Erica. "He's actually trying his best to take care of Eric."

"He's the most irresponsible person I know, and he has a kid. He's ruined his life! Why are you so calm about all this? Any chance at anything normal, anything at all he's thrown away. Why would someone do something like that? And what about Sarah, or you or me? We don't get to have kids, even when we're ready we don't get to have them! He does and he's not even out of high school! How is that fair?"

"It sounds like you wanted him to have a normal life, I think you care more than you want to admit." She bared her fangs, and in response Rory narrowed his eyes before smacking her with Vampire Sasquatch. "Bad Erica, that's for being mean to Benny and Eric."

Erica stood there dumbfounded as Rory walked off without so much as looking back. Was it possible she was wanted him to have a normal life? But why should she care? He was just Benny, the annoying kid who tried too hard. The more she thought about the fewer things made sense to her.

When Benny got home he found his Grandma walking around the kitchen preparing various things for dinner. Eric sat securely in his car seat which was situated on the center of the kitchen island. Benny took a seat at the table and picked up the stuffed rabbit. Eric let out giggle as he watched his dad bounced it back and forth.

"Grandma, can I ask you something?"

"Anything dear," said Evelyn as she moved between the various pots and pans. "You should know that by now."

"Are you ashamed of me for creating Eric?" The question hung in the air and for a moment he dreaded anything she might say. "Am I a disappointment to you?"

Evelyn looked up from the pots and sighed when she noticed her grandson has been crying. In one fluid motion she covered the ground between them and wrapped her arms around him.

"No matter what you've done, or what you might do I will always be proud of you. I love you, you know that."

"Even when I don't think things through and stuff like this happens?" He motioned to Eric who now sat silently as he watched them.

"That's when you shine your brightest. You are unique individual; don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

"You're not mad at me being a teenage dad?"

"I would be mad if you tried to take the easy way out, but you haven't. I'll admit I'm not exactly the most enthusiastic about it, but whats happened, happened. You're trying your best, and for that I couldn't be prouder."

"Thanks," said Benny as he wiped his tears away. "Sorry this lack of sleep is starting to get to me."

She took his face in her hands and turned it from side to side. She ran her thumbs across the dark circles under his eyes. "I thought Eric slept through the whole night."

"He did, but I couldn't. There's just so many things going on right now, I'm worried about him, I'm worried about me."

"Mhm," she let go of his face and appeared to be in thought for a moment. "If you want I'll watch him tonight so you can get a good night's rest. I have something that will help you sleep, and where did you get the idea I would be ashamed of you? If your father can spend half his adult life traveling for work and never stop for a visit then you should know there's little to nothing that can break my steel old heart."

"I overheard Erica and Rory talking in the hall," said Benny as tickled Eric's toes. "And I thought about how Dad is always busy and never around, and it's just been bothering me a lot."

"It's because you're still a teenager, its bad enough you have your hormones going like crazy, but adding a child into the mix. I honestly don't see what you see in this girl. She reminds me of Stephanie, and in more ways than one."

"She's not that bad," said Benny as he looked down at his son. "And I don't like her, not anymore."

"Really now? You're really going to tell me you don't like her when you're playing with both yours and hers child?"

"No," said Benny as he looked up at his Grandma. "I have a son, she doesn't, and as far as she knows she never will."

A/N: I've really made Erica out to be a real mean person, but I think that's what makes her such an interesting character. She wants to be nice, but can't when things aren't what she wants them to be. Don't forget to leave a review, if you have any positive or negative feedback I'd love to hear it!