A/N: It's time for another chapter, and this one sets the ground work for the next chapter. (Which I'm warning you is going to be a BIG ONE.) So enjoy this little in between chapter. And don't forget to review!

Benny's Baby

Chapter 8: The Calm That Is The Storm

The Weir house shook slightly in the turbulent wind causing all four current residents to look up. Ethan cast an uneasy look at Benny who shook his head and motioned to the various items lying around the attic.

"We're going to have to most of that stuff over there," mumbled Benny as he pointed to the crib, dresser, and various other small items. "Then we're going to have to bring up the extra chairs from the guest room. We can leave the bed in there, just in case my Grandma or I will stay in the nursery over night."

"I forgot how creepy this place could be," whispered Ethan as he remembered the various adventures he and Benny had taken part in over the various years. He carefully walked across the attic and peered out the small circular window. If it was possible the rain seemed to be falling harder and faster than before. He could see his own breathe in the air in front of him. "Why is it so cold up here?"

"Grandma uses a heating spell to keep everything below the attic warm. We didn't use it on the attic because no one ever comes up here for long and it seemed like a waste of time and energy." He joined Ethan at the window. "It looks bad out there. I didn't think it could get any worse than it was at school, but now it looks like the ocean's falling from the sky."

"Do you think we should just call off moving things around today? What are the odds of them getting here without being washed away?"

"Rory will get here no matter what, anything to see Eric. As for Sarah and Erica I have no idea; they're girls and that makes them a little harder to understand. What do you think would happen if I told Erica that she's a mom?"

"I have no idea," said Ethan as he made his way for the stairs. "Since you lied about it today I'd say she's going to be pretty pissed. Why did you have to lie? I mean I know why you would, but still."

"I panicked; it was a moment of weakness in my otherwise perfect personality."

They joined Evelyn in the kitchen, and at their sight Eric smiled and waved his arms back and forth. Benny scooped him up and then sighed as he stared at his son's hair.

"If I let it stay blonde then there's a good chance Erica will make the connection."

Eric squealed in delight at the mention of his mom. Outside lightning flashed and Eric kicked his legs in excitement.

"No fear, just like his parents," said Evelyn as she walked past. Ethan rolled his eyes as Benny puffed out his chest in pride. "Though he looks more like his mother than his father."

"Part of me thinks she'll get mad but understand," whispered Benny as he debated on whether or not to tell Erica. "And the other part well it thinks she'll try and eat Eric."

"Eat him, really?" asked Ethan as took a seat at the kitchen table. "Erica's a vampire, not a black widow."

"I'm sure she was a black widow in a previous life."

"The more you make fun of her the harder I find it to believe you don't like her. It's like preschool all over again."

"Tugging on a girl's ponytails is a universal sign for 'I have a crush on you'."

"Yes and what is magically creating a baby a sign for?" asked Evelyn as she walked by again. Ethan did his best not to laugh.

"I have no idea, ok give me a moment," mumbled Benny as he thought of a spell. After a few seconds he pointed at his son's hair. "Capillus idem pater."

Eric's blonde hair began to darken, until at last it matched Benny's. Benny smiled and nodded as he looked over his sons' new hair color.

"You know I actually liked him better as a blonde," mumbled Ethan as he looked at Eric. "But with the brown hair he looks a lot more like you."

"I know right," said Benny then slightly disappointed he added: "But his eyes are a dead giveaway."

"Why don't you change them too?"

"There's no way I'm touching the eyes, I like them the way they are. They remind me of-" Ethan raised his eyebrows a huge smile across his face. "What?"

"Say it."

"No."

"Saaaaaay iiiit."

"They remind me of Erica, and I don't want to change them in case I can't turn them back ok?"

"I still can't believe Erica hasn't put it together that Eric her son too. She held him, saw his hair, his eyes, and heard his name. If Rory can put it together then she should've figured it out ages ago."

"Maybe she's not a smart as you thought she was," mumbled Evelyn as she sat at the table. "Heaven knows I'm still trying to figure out how that Rory kid gets himself dressed in the morning."

"I think it's because I convinced her that Della was the mom, it doesn't leave a lot of room for the imagination does it?"

"Excellent way to handle your problems dear," said Evelyn dryly. "Cover the lies with lies, what could go wrong?"

Before either of them could response the doorbell rang, Benny scooped up his son and together they headed for the front. Ethan threw open the door and sure enough standing in the rain was none other than Rory, Sarah and Erica.

"Hey guys!" said Rory under his yellow rain jacket. "Eric!"

"Come on in," said Benny, and the three of them entered. Sarah gave Ethan and hug and Erica stood back awkwardly as she watched Rory play with the baby in Benny's arm.

"So what's the plan?" asked Sarah as she pulled off her jacket.

"We're going to move as much of the chairs and sofa out of the guest room into the attic, and then vice versa," said Benny as he handed Eric off to his Grandma, he motioned for them to follow him up the stairs. "It shouldn't be too hard with super powered vampires helping out."

Erica was halfway up the stairs when Evelyn called out for her. "Erica dear come here really quick,"

"Yeah?" asked Erica as she approached Evelyn. Eric had stopped bouncing in Evelyn's arms and stared at her. "Can I help you?"

"I know that both Benny and you fancy each other," she held up her hand to stop Erica from responding. "Just listen to what I have to say. I know you both like each other, and as teenagers you either refuse to see it or just really naïve and stupid. But if you ever hurt my Grandson's feelings again I swear I will make the rest of your immortal life a nightmare."

"Y-yes ma'am," said Erica suddenly afraid. Eric bounced up and down in Evelyn's arms and stretched his arms out towards her. She looked at Evelyn who nodded slightly and took the infant in her arms. "Is it really that obvious?"

"It's as obvious as the child in your arms. I've said all I wanted to, if you're heading to the attic I suggest you put a beanie on his head it's chilly up there."

Erica looked at Eric and watched as he bounced happily in her arms, something was different about him, but what? She continued to look at the infant and after a moment she headed up towards the attic with the happy child in her arms.

"Let's start with these chairs," said Benny as Ethan and him attempted to pick up the first stuffed chair. "Wow these are heavy."

"Here," said Erica as she handed Eric to Ethan and then in one smooth motion lifted the chair. Rory picked up another and Sarah the last one. They carried them into the hallway and then up into the attic. Benny quickly followed.

"I forgot how strong they could be," whispered Ethan to Eric as he headed for the attic. A moment later Erica descended the stairs with the crib in her hands, Rory and Sarah followed with the dresser and changing table. "Wow at this rate we'll be done in minutes."

"Not exactly," said Benny. "We have a few more boxes to move, and then it's just a matter of getting the baby's clothes and toys over into the nursery."

"Wow your room is really clean," said Erica as they entered Benny's room. "I figured everything would be thrown all over the place and floor."

"I've been keeping it clean," said Benny with a smile. "Eric's stuff is in the closet but let me open it because-"

Rory threw open the closet door and sure enough several things toppled out. A large poster board, various videogames and old magazines now covered the floor. Erica bent down and opened the poster board, written across the top was: What are Genetics? By Benny Weir.

"This was your old 9th grade project," said Ethan as he leaned forward. Eric giggled and waved his arm back and forth. "I remember you went around collecting hair samples from people and then calculated what kind of genetics their children would have."

"That was just after we became friends," said Sarah as she looked at the board. "I remember thinking about how strange you were for collecting them. Especially from the vampires, since you know we can't have kids."

Erica examined the board, there a single strand of hair from everyone in the room, even a sample from Mr. G, Stern, and Della. She found her own name and ran her finger across it, the sample of was gone. Of all the people Benny had paired it was him and her, and at the time it was the stupidest thing ever, but now looking at it something in the back of her mind began to nag at her.

The board said any child she had with Benny would result in blonde hair and blue eyes, she looked at Eric, brown hair and blue eyes. She looked at Eric, with his bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. According to the board any child Dell had would have blonde hair, and brown eyes, Benny had green eyes with brown hair…. What was she missing?

"I was going to throw it out," said Benny. "But it was the only A I ever got in science, and we can all admit it, it's never going to happen again."

"So where's his mom?" asked Erica sourly as she stared at the board.

"Della couldn't make it," said Benny as fast as possible. "She doesn't exactly-"

"I just realized something," said Rory as he looked at the board and then back at Eric. "Wasn't he-"

"No way!" said Ethan as he noticed the stuffed rabbit on in the bassinet. "Is that Benny-Rabbit?"

"Benny Rabbit?" asked Sarah trying her best not to laugh. "What's that?"

"My old stuffed rabbit from when we were kids. Grandma showed me the restoration spell and what better way to test it out than on this guy here?"

"I haven't seen that thing since you accidentally ripped its head off," Ethan picked the rabbit up in his free hand and held it high. "It looks as good as new."

"I know I wish she had used the spell back in the day. Imagine all the adventures we could've gone on with BR still around."

"Where did you find it?"

"Box filled with my old stuff in the attic. We went up there Thursday night; you would not believe the amount of energy that goes into fixing up and cleaning that old stuff. "

"Only you would name your toy after yourself," said Erica as tossed the board to the side. "Let's finish this up, I still have homework to finish."

They quickly moved the rest of the stuff over. When he had a moment alone Benny looked inside the nursery, it had a crib, a changing table, a bed, and finally a dresser filled with Eric's clothes and toys. Outside the rain was beginning to lighten up. For a moment he stood in the doorway unsure of how to feel, the room looked great but was he ready to move his son into his own room? Erica peered into the nursery behind him and quietly asked:

"Are you nervous about the new nursery?"

"A little, I can't move him in just yet. There a few spells I need to cast and they'll take a day or two to finish."

"I'm sorry about everything that's happened between us these past few days. I can see the effort you're putting into Eric, and I was out of line with what I said."

For a moment neither of them said anything, Benny slowly closed the gap between them. "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" asked Erica suddenly nervous.

Benny found himself at loss for words, and saved by the sudden appearance of Sarah, Rory and Ethan.

"I have to go," said Sarah as she held up her phone. "My parents are calling. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

They escorted her to the door, she grabbed her jacket and vanished into the drizzle.

"Ok I'm sorry but why is Eric's hair brown?" asked Rory as he took Eric from Ethan's arms. "I thought he was blonde."

"No, he's always had brown hair," said Benny suddenly. "He looks like me."

"No he hasn't, I remember because he looked so much like-"

"I think it's time you guys went home," said Benny as he took Eric away from Rory. "It's getting late and I need to do my homework and feed this guy."

"B-but I want to-"

"Come on," said Ethan as he pushed him towards the door. "I got a new Creature vs. Machine game."

Erica looked at Benny awkwardly and then at the infant in his arms.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" asked Erica nervously as she looked everywhere but Benny's face. "Not that I don't see you every day."

"Y-yeah I'll see you tomorrow," said Benny as he smiled. For a moment he was unsure what to do, and then found himself rewarded with a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Get some sleep, you look exhausted," whispered Erica. He flushed red and watched as she walked away. Eric giggled and Benny looked up, the rain had stopped and the clouds were beginning to part. It appeared as the though the storm was over.

A/N: Like I mentioned before the next chapter is going to be a BIG ONE, and that's all I'm saying for now. I'll leave you the title and let you guys guess what happens next: 'The Immovable Object Meets The Unstoppable Force'. Just so you know after the next chapter I'll be taking a week off to get things set up for the second half of the story, more on that in the next chapter. Don't forget to leave a review!