Disclaimer: I don't own these characters – Brenda Hampton does. No profit is being made from this fic.

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I know I said this chapter was going to be a return to Amy's POV, but I decided to switch some scenes around. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Four

Ricky's POV

'So…we're at the beach,' Jack said, stating the obvious.

'Yep, seems like it,' I sighed.

The beach. This was the backdrop? Of all the places I imagined this confrontation would take place…well who the hell would imagine a showdown on a beach? This was the kind of place they put on postcards, with happy slogans saying 'wish you were here'. I couldn't wish for anyone to be here, in my place, waiting around to convince someone not to break up with their girlfriend. This wasn't the stuff of vacations. It was the stuff of nightmares.

It was like life was trying to screw with me. You think I had any nice family vacations growing up? Of course I didn't. Though I guess my dad would've liked to corrupt me in such an idyllic location…

This was screwed up.

The sun was shining. The pier looked inviting. Little kids who were not old enough to be in school were running around or making sandcastles.

And juxtaposed with that, you had Ben sitting on the sand with some Italian chick. What the hell? They were just sitting on the sand, talking and acting like the world was as happy as a glossy postcard.

I could see the scene quite well from our vantage point. Jack had parked at the top of the dunes, so we were overlooking the beach. We were sitting in the car and trying to decide when was the right time for me to interrupt Ben's 'date'. I actually doubted there was a right time. Unless Miss Italy got up to go get an ice-cream or collect seashells or whatever, I would just have to go up to the two of them and demand to speak with Ben.

This could all end very badly. Even Jack knew that. God knew it too, on account of him being everywhere. I needed Grace to pray for me or something.

What I would give to temporarily have the power to be everywhere. That way I could see Amy and John right now and draw more strength from the fact I was doing this for them. I was trying to guarantee that Ben stayed in their lives. Because if he didn't, there would just be me…and I wasn't sure that was good for Amy. She hated me already – surely this would make her hate me even more. If I hadn't gotten her pregnant then she would've been be a normal sixteen year old, who was able to have a perfectly 'normal' relationship with Ben. She wouldn't be tentative about having sex with Ben and therefore he wouldn't have gone elsewhere for his needs. I mean, she even could've gone to Italy!

There was not much point, however, in playing the 'what if' game now. I had to focus on reality.

Things were tough enough for Amy. She didn't need a broken heart. I had to stop Ben.

'Want me to walk down with you?' Jack asked, looking over at me. 'Not that I'm saying you need backup or anything. Just, you know…'

'Yeah, alright. Make sure I don't flake out,' I said. 'And make sure I don't snap and kick his ass before talking to him.'

'Alright.'

I couldn't move. It was like someone had put lead weights around my ankles.

'Ricky?'

'Yeah.'

'You gotta do it, man. That's why we followed him all the way here.'

It took a lot of willpower to open the car door. I jumped down onto the asphalt and breathed in the salty air. Jack came around to my side of the car and then we walked across to the steps that led down to the beach. We descended at a steady pace. Ben had no idea we were here.

He looked up when we were about thirty feet away.

Did he look like a deer stuck in the headlights? Yeah, he goddamned did. Wide-eyed and not sure what to do. The girl was confused, but not overly alarmed. Well, how was she to know who I was?

Not that I paid that much attention in English class, but I was pretty sure we studied 'coming of age' stories earlier this year. There was this one story where the boy was told to shoot a deer because his dad said it would make him a man. This situation with Ben was kind of the reverse – he was a deer who needed to stop being so reckless and carefree. He needed to grow up. Otherwise I would have to be the man to shoot him down.

'Um, Ricky…Jack,' Ben spluttered. He stood up, wiping sand of his hands and shooting the girl a few nervous looks. 'What are you doing here?'

Jack let me do the talking. Maybe he wasn't such a bad wingman after all.

'This beach party of yours wasn't advertised that well,' I said smarmily. 'I wouldn't have worn jeans today had I had more notice. And I would've brought suntan lotion. Not for me, of course, but for you.'

Jack nudged me, probably to indicate I should tone down the sarcasm if I wanted to convince Ben of anything. The girl stood up and I couldn't help but give her an appraising look.

'Who's your lady friend?' I asked accusingly.

Ben stepped forward. His stance wasn't aggressive; it was more resigned. Tired even.

'What are you doing here?' he sighed.

I ignored him momentarily and offered a handshake to the girl.

'Ricky,' I said in introduction. 'You are?'

'Maria Josephine,' she revealed hesitantly, though she shook my hand firmly. Yep, definitely had an Italian accent. 'Or MJ for short.'

'Nice to meet you. I've heard all about you.'

Another nudge from Jack, harder this time. I couldn't help it. There was just so much going on in my head. So much pent up frustration. And I couldn't help but also think of the argument I had had with Adrian.

Ben looked like he was going to be sick.

I continued.

'So you're the girl who Ben cheated on his girlfriend with,' I remarked. 'You know, his girlfriend who has a baby…'

'Ricky, if you want to talk, let's talk alone,' Ben insisted.

I stared at him. I then looked at MJ. She didn't seem perturbed by my reference to Amy, so she clearly knew Ben had a girlfriend and she clearly didn't care. Now, I could never claim to be the patron saint of monogamy, but this was different. A kid was involved in this situation. My kid.

'Okay,' Jack cut in. 'You guys should talk. I'll just hang over there...near the concession stand. I'm starved.'

I nodded at him, with thanks. Ben then looked back at MJ and she took the hint and backed off. I watched as she walked to the water's edge. She seemed graceful at first, until she started to kick the wet sand as she walked. Hmmm.

'What are you doing?' Ben questioned, shaking his head.

'What am I doing? Excuse me?'

When it came to me and Ben…defensive was our default position.

'Ricky, this is…'

'Please tell me you aren't about to say this is none of my business,' I shot back. 'It is my business. You're Amy's boyfriend. Remember her? Because I think you've forgotten.'

'Amy and I…it's…'

'It's what? I know you had sex with this MJ girl. What is this today? A transatlantic booty call? Is that how you rich guys live? Fly a girl in, fly her back out. Do you pay her in US dollars or in Euros?'

'Don't talk about MJ like that,' he warned.

'Don't talk about Amy as if she doesn't exist,' I snarled.

'I know she exists.'

'But she only exists when MJ isn't around? Would this be a bad time to crack a joke about Italian sausage?'

He looked at me with a deadly serious expression and I knew in that instant that whatever I said or did today…he was still going to break up with Amy. Once that hit me, I became desperate.

'You married Amy,' I pointed out. 'You took vows and everything.'

'That wasn't a legal marriage,' he grimaced. 'And things…things just didn't work out…'

'What are you talking about?'

'I can't be with Amy anymore. I don't think I love her like I used to. I still care about her a lot. But it's just…I can see why people kept pointing out how young we were. I married her and I didn't even really know what marriage was supposed to mean.'

'This Italy thing…you didn't do it in retaliation for something did you? Before you left, when I was at Amy's house that morning and you got mad for no reason? Nothing happened. I told you that. She told you that. If John could talk, he would tell you that too!'

'Even if nothing happened, that doesn't mean it never will.'

I ran a hand through my hair. I shut my eyes for a few moments, controlled my emotions and then opened my eyes again.

'Amy hates me. She hates me, Ben! When are you going to realize that? When is Adrian going to realize that? Dammit!'

'Amy doesn't hate you. You can't honestly think that.'

'I do honestly think that. In fact, she confirmed it by saying it to my face not that long ago.'

'In what context?' he challenged. 'What made her say it?'

'Nothing made her say it. It's just the way she feels.'

'Let me guess, the conversation had meandered its way to the subject of Adrian and Amy got upset?'

I guess he was right on that point since I had said something about Amy not being able to control who held John…no, that wasn't the point. She would've said it anyway.

'Speaking of Adrian, what was with you talking to her over the summer?' I asked. 'You told her everything. She lied to me about what she knew. We fought about that last night, amongst other things.'

'You honestly don't see what Adrian and I have in common?'

'Don't get all high and mighty with me. You hardly know Adrian.'

'Don't you get it? Adrian and I, we're fighting losing battles. Or at least I was. I've conceded now. Maybe you and Amy should be together. It would be good for John. You guys will probably end up together.'

'What is wrong with you? There's nothing going on between me and Amy!' I exclaimed. 'Look, you're supposed to be John's step-father. You told Amy you would stick by her no matter what.'

He stepped forward, which caught me a bit off guard considering he had mentioned how much I intimidated him.

'Do you remember when you told me that you were after Amy? Before John was born?' he said softly. 'And how you backed off because I could better provide for them or whatever?'

'I didn't know what I was saying.'

'It's not nice being a consolation prize, Ricky.'

'Is this about sex? MJ can give you sex? Amy is a teenage mother. Show a little understanding.'

'You're not really in a position to judge people when it comes to wanting sex.'

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. This was going nowhere fast.

'Ben, I'm begging you,' I implored, gesturing with my hands. 'Don't do this. Don't break up with Amy.'

'I have to.'

He sounded so sure of himself.

'No, you don't. Think about it, Ben…'

'No, you think about it. You're a permanent part of Amy's life. Why don't you ask yourself why you're so worried about me breaking up with her?'

'She doesn't deserve this heartbreak. She needs you,' I pleaded.

'No, that's not it. You're just freaked out because if I'm not in the picture…'

His words echoed Adrian's from last night. I knew what he was getting at, but I refused to accept it as a possibility.

'Stay in the picture, I'm begging you.'

'I've made up my mind. I'm going to break up with Amy.'

I couldn't believe this had turned out to be a lost cause. Ben effectively ended the confrontation by literally walking away. I watched as he resolutely made his way over to MJ, who was at the water's edge.

This was going to change everything. This was not good.

Like I said…the stuff of nightmares.