A/N: After an Erica-less chapter we now have an Eric-less chapter! Fun times, anyway expect another update by weeks end! And don't forget to leave a review! See you guys next chapter.

Benny's Baby

Chapter 7: Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Sometimes)

Benny walked into the empty classroom, on any normal week it would've been a welcome change to hang out with his friends. But anything that could be considered 'normal' had flown out the window the moment Eric was born. He thought about what Ethan had said, the longer he hid the truth from Erica the worse things could get. He leaned against the window and sighed at his internal dilemma. The light drizzle from the previous day had turned into a downpour, and despite the relaxing view of the rain Benny bounced around reasons for and against telling Erica.

E had figured out Eric's heritage that first day, which meant Sarah knew as well. As for Rory he was putting it together, which meant is was only a matter of time before he figured it out. Was he afraid of telling Erica because he was afraid of her, or was it something else? Was it possible he still had a crush on her? He thought about the way Eric made his heart swell, was it because it was his son, or maybe because he was their son?

Then two things happened at once, Erica entered the room and his phone buzzed. He locked eyes with Erica and felt the sting of her words again. There was a better chance of Stern coming back to life than the truth being revealed today. He looked down at his phone to avoid eye contact.

You free for lunch? I have an extra pudding- Della

He smiled and replied.

Sure, meet you in the cafeteria in a few.

Erica cleared her throat and his happy demeanor suddenly faded. The sadness he had experienced over the last few days was gone, replaced by anger.

"What?" Asked Benny the humor gone from his voice. "The last time we talked you yelled at me and the others for supporting my choice to keep my son." He watched as she flinched. "That's right, Eric is my son, and does that bother you? I mean after all I am a teenage dad, and if I was like any other teenager out there I would be a failure right?"

"Y-you heard?"

"Yeah I heard. What could you possibly have to say to me now? Are you going to make fun of my Grandma? Or maybe you're gonna try and tell me that I should give up Eric?"

"I just want to talk," said Erica as she leaned against the other side of the window. She looked at him and then out at the rain. "I'm sorry."

"Is that really the best you can come up with? I used to think you were my friend, but out of all the people I know you have been the worst. I understand we have this thing where we argue, and I get that. I understand you get mad at me when my magic goes wrong, but these last few days when I needed my friends to be there you haven't been."

"I can explain." He motioned for her to continue. She bit her lip nervously and looked out the window. "You have a chance at a normal life, you and Ethan. Rory, Sarah and I, we don't get to have a chance at a normal life ever. We didn't get to make that choice, it happened. Now when I see you doing things that mess that up, or ruin it, it makes me mad. Why does he get throw it away, huh? Why does Benny Weir get to be normal, and choose not to? And then you created a baby and I couldn't take it."

There was a flash of light followed by the booming sound of thunder.

"The reason I freaked out is because everything that's ahead of you is adult. You have to grow up; you're going to start acting like a father soon. Eric is only to get older, and when he does you'll learn how much harder things can get. And that made me even angrier because vampires can't have kids. Why would you do something so stupid, so young? I know it sound so selfish-"

"Why should my life affect you at all? It's my life, not yours and I'll deal with the consequences. You have no right to comment on anything I do. And everything you said these past days, do you even have any idea how much it bothered me. I trying so hard right now to make sure Eric is healthy and happy, I don't need someone who had no idea what's going on making a fuss over something she has no part of. You don't know what it's like to have a son. So please, tell me what right you have to judge my life and choices? If maybe you were a part of this, it would be ok, but-"

Any chance at ignoring your crush went away when your son came into the world.

Benny locked eyes with Erica and for a moment he caught a glimmer of the girl she used to be. Any fight he left within him vanished; he sighed and tried to find the right words

"-I need to tell you something." He reached out for her hand and stopped when lightning flashed outside. "Eric's special to me, and for more reasons than you'll ever know." The thunder roared over head. "He's my son, but he's more than that, right now he's the most important thing in the world to me. And to hear you just say the things you did, it was too much."

"Benny I'm really sorry for everything I've said. I was angry and acting stupid, I know I can't make you forgive me with just an apology, but I just want us to be friends again. I didn't mean for things to get this bad between us, if there's anything you need just let me know."

She reached out and took his hand in her, and for a moment they stood like that as they stared out at the falling rain.

"It's beautiful," whispered Benny as he looked at her. He wanted to say so much more, but found he couldn't. His phone buzzed and whatever moment they were having was gone. He let go of her hand and took a step back. "So you care?"

"Care about what?"

"Me. You care about me, and you just don't know how to say it."

"If you want to say it like that then sure," said Erica trying to downplay whatever had happened between them. "Whatever makes you feel better."

"Why can't you just say that?" Asked Benny smiled as he leaned forward. "Like when you came over to my house the other day, you couldn't say it then. And admit it you just wanted to visit me. Just say it- I care about you."

"Can't you just let things go?"

"Come on, four words: I-care-about-you!"

"You can be so annoying sometimes!" said Erica half heartedly with a smile as she headed for the door. She stopped and looked over shoulder back at him. "I know I said some hurtful things, but do you forgive me? Are we still friends?"

"We're friends," said Benny. He noticed the saddened look in her face when he didn't forgive her. "If you really want to make it up to me then come over to my house tonight and help me move some furniture around for Eric's nursery. It's like my Grandma says, actions speak louder than words."

"Just you and me?"

"No, Sarah, Rory and Ethan are coming over too. Why, were you hoping for some alone time with me?"

"No it was something I was afraid of," said Erica with a sly smile. "I'll think about it. What was it you wanted to tell me? Was it just that you cared about Eric, or was there something else?"

"I-I-It's about Eric's mom," said Benny unsure of what he was going to say next. "I had to use someone else's DNA to make him and I wasn't sure how I was going to tell them. And its part of the reasons why I've been so stressed lately. But you don't have to worry about it."

"Is it alright if I ask who his mom is?"

"Its- his mom-it's-" His phone buzzed again and he said the only name that came to mind. "Della!"

Erica stopped and leaned forward. "Did you say Della, as in the girl who hates you because she thought you fed her, her dead dog?"

Benny gave a lopsided smile and Erica sighed as she opened the door. Ethan, Sarah and Rory stumbled in. They tried their best to act casual.

"How long have you guys been standing there?" asked Erica as her fangs appeared.

"Just got here," said Ethan as he rocked back and forth. "Yup, just got here."

"So are you guy's friends again?" asked Sarah. "Because this fighting is causing way too much stress between everyone."

"Were you watching us?" asked Benny.

"I was," said Rory casually. "But that's my thing because I'm the vampire ninja."

"Whatever," said Benny as he began to walk away. "I'll catch you guys later I'm eating lunch with Della!"

"I can't stand her," said Erica from her position at the lunch table. "Everything about her just annoys me. If I had a chance I'd drain her dry."

"Easy there," said Sarah as patted her friend's shoulder and motioned to the dent in the table. "What is it about her that can't stand? You never argued with her before you vamped up, the only interaction you've ever had is when you stole her cellphone last month."

"Isn't it obvious?" said Rory. "It's because Erica likes Benny, duh."

"I don't like Benny. You were so much easier to talk to when you didn't talk back."

"I've matured," said Rory as he placed his elbows on the table. "It's part of my plan to starting winning over the hearts of Whitechapel's sweethearts."

"You need to stop hanging out with Benny and get your elbows out of my sandwich," said Ethan. He watched his friend from across the cafeteria. "And who cares who Benny hangs out with, it's good for him considering everything else that's been going on in his life."

"You think she would've told me she has a crush on him," said Rory as he wiped the jelly off his elbow. "I mean when we hang out all the time and she never talks about him."

"You hang out with her?"

"Uh yeah, we text all the time, and sometimes we'll go to a movie. I do have other friends besides Benny and you, well not friends...but friend… Della."

"What does he even see in her?" asked Erica as her fangs appeared. "I mean she's so average. There's nothing interesting at all about her."

"It sounds like you're jealous," whispered Sarah with a hint of a smile. "On Tuesday after you saw Benny and Della together you ran away pretty fast."

"Yeah I remember you were talking about them," said Rory. "It was before you started talking bad about him and Eric."

"Sounds like you like Benny," said Ethan. "Do you like him?"

"I don't like him," hissed Erica. "But why would he use her DNA to create Eric?"

"What?" asked Ethan and Sarah in unison.

"He told me today that he used her DNA, I mean I saw that baby and there is no way that Della isn't his mother. Why would anyone date someone who had a crush on Rory?"

"Blonde hair… blue eyes…" mumbled Rory as he suddenly appeared focused. "Wait a minute Della isn't the-"

"Yeah what was Benny thinking?" said Sarah as she covered Rory's mouth. "We may never know."

Erica said nothing and watched as Benny laughed, watched as Della put her hand over his, and watched as they both turned red. Was it possible she was jealous? Was it wrong that a part of her had hoped deep down Eric might have been her son? In response the sound of thunder rocked the building causing several kids in the cafeteria to shout out. Erica stood up and walked away unsure of her own feelings. Ethan and Sarah shared a looked as they stared at the dent she had left in the table.

"Della had a crush on me?" asked Rory. "How was I supposed to know?"