Salem Inn
Ben was sitting; up in bed reading his tablet; Bo and Ciara were still sound asleep. Ben couldn't believe that today his son was turning a year old.
When they returned; from Greece, they decided to stay in Salem for a few days to celebrate with family. Hope was still in Greece waiting for Bo to wake up; they got back; a few days ago so they could make plans for Little Bo's party.
Ben, was so lost; in thought, he didn't notice Ciara roll over and say good morning to him.
" Ben?"
" Sorry baby, did you say something?"
" I asked if you were okay; you seemed a million miles away."
" I'm fine, just thinking."
" About what?"
" Our son, turning one, and how a year ago I wasn't there when he was born."
" We have been over this a million times; that wasn't your fault."
" I know; I just wish I was there."
" Me too, but everything turned out fine; we are all okay."
" You're right. I have to let it go and focus on being here now."
" That's right, and today we are focusing on having the best party for our amazing little boy."
" We have to be at Grandma Julie's by 12:30 because the party is at 1, and my mom is going to Facetime us at the party, and it's going to be 9 pm in Greece."
" I'm sorry your mom can't be here."
" It's okay; she wants to stay with Dad. In case he wakes up. I completely; understand."
" I was so happy when I walked into my hotel room and saw you and Bo sitting on the bed; best surprise ever."
" I know you wanted us to stay behind, but I could tell from our face time call that you needed us there with you."
" You know me so well," Ciara said as she kissed Ben.
" So your Uncle Steve is still in Greece, right?"
" He is, but Aunt Kayla and Shawn are back. So they will be at the party."
" Yep, Belle will be there, and Eric is going to stop by Brady and Marlena and John. There will be lots of people to celebrate with our little man."
" Grandma Julie said she was taking care of the cake because she; was not going to let it be ruined, like our gender reveal cake."
" Of course, she wants everything perfect for her great-grandson."
" I actually wanted to talk to you about something."
" What's up?"
" I was thinking about asking Maggie if we could stay at the mansion for a while. I love being out on the water with you and Bo but with my dad in Greece and mom there with him. I was; thinking; it might be nice to be here in Salem for a while in case something happens?"
" I think it would be a good idea to stay for a while; I was going to say something last night, but I wasn't sure how you would feel."
" Great, I'm going to call Maggie right now."
Ben checked on Bo while Ciara made the phone call. Bo was still sound asleep in the crib.
Ciara hung up the phone with a big smile on her face.
" Maggie said she would love to have us; not; a lot of people are staying there right now, so it's the perfect time for us to be there."
" When can we move in?"
" She said we can come tonight if we want."
" Sounds good; we will pack up the car, check out, head over to Julie's for the party, then move into the mansion; after."
" Sounds good; why don't you jump in the shower; first; then we can pack up."
" Ben went to take; a shower and get ready to start packing up the car while Ciara checked on Bo."
He was wide awake in his crib, waiting to; be picked up.
" Happy Birthday, Bo."
Ciara picked him up and hugged him, then kissed his forehead before taking him; over to the bed.
When Ben finished, he walked out and saw Ciara and Bo on the bed; Bo was having a bottle and snuggling with Ciara.
Ben sat next to them on the bed, and Bo smiled at Ben.
" Happy Birthday, Little Man."
Ciara and Ben looked at Bo; they looked at each other and smiled, then leaned in and kissed. Ben played with Bo while Ciara went to get ready. When she finished, they packed up their stuff, got Bo ready; for his party then checked out of the Salem Inn.
Doug & Julie's
They arrived a little before 12:30; Shawn and Belle; were setting up the Happy Birthday banner, Marlena was helping Julie set up the food table, and Eric and Brady were putting gifts off to the side. Doug and Kayla were getting drinks for everyone.
By 1:30, the party was in full swing; everyone was talking and having a great time; everyone was taking turns with the birthday boy; Ciara asked Eric if he could bring his camera and take pictures.
They put Bo in his high chair, and everyone sang happy birthday to him. Hope had joined in with a Facetime call as Julie placed the cake; in front of him. Ben and Ciara stood on either side of him and blew out the candle. Eric took a picture of the three of them right; before Bo stuck his hand in the cake.
Everyone watched as he smeared the cake all over his face. Bo decided he didn't like having his hand covered in cake and held it up to Ciara; and started to fuss.
" It's okay, Bo. Mommy will clean it off."
Ciara grabbed a baby wipe; and, cleaned off Bo's hand, and wiped his face. Everyone had a piece of cake and talked.
Ben walked back over to Ciara and held up his fork.
" You have to try this cake; it is; really; good."
Ciara opened her mouth so Ben could feed her a piece.
After feeding her the cake, he realized he got; some on the side of her mouth.
" Wait, you got a little bit right there; I'll get it," Ben said as he leaned in to get the cake off the side of her mouth, then kissed her lips.
Ciara pulled away and said, "This reminds me of the day we tasted wedding cake."
" If I remember right, it went something like this," Ciara said as she put frosting all over Ben's face.
Ben started laughing as she ran off with Bo to go; see Shawn.
After they opened presents, Bo started to get fussy because he needed a nap. They thanked everyone for coming to celebrate Bo's first birthday, then started to pack up so they; could go to the mansion and settle in.
Eric told Ciara he would drop by the mansion later with the pictures while Ben and Shawn took down the decorations. Belle and Marlena helped Julie pack up; the leftover food and put it away while Brady and John took down the table.
Everyone said goodbye while Ciara and Julie talked.
" I am so glad you are staying in Salem for a while."
" We thought it would be best. In case something happens with Dad in Greece."
" I still can't believe he's been alive all this time."
" Me either."
Ben; walked over and said, " Sorry to interrupt, but your son wants you, and I think we should head out.
" We should, Grandma; thank you for everything; we had a great time."
" Anything for my great-grandson."
Ciara smiled and hugged Julie; she stood up and took Bo from Ben. Ben hugged Julie and grabbed the diaper bag and Ciara's purse.
Julie kissed Bo on the cheek as he rested his head on Ciara's shoulder. They thanked Julie and Doug one more time before leaving the house.
Mansion
When they arrived, Maggie was sitting in the living room.
" Hey, Maggie, how are you?"
" I am great; I'm sorry I wasn't at the party. I wanted to make sure you would have; everything you need."
" Thank you so much for letting us stay here for a while."
" You and Ben will be in the room and the end of the hall, and Bo; get's the room right across from you unless you want him in your room."
" I think for; tonight, we will keep him with us, then maybe move him; to the other room tomorrow."
Ciara and Ben walked into the bedroom; Ciara held Bo as Ben put the playpen together so they could lay Bo down.
Ciara laid Bo down in the playpen and; then sat next to Ben on the bed.
" This is a nice room."
" This is the room I stayed in while you were in prison."
" Really?"
" Yep, it's nice to be back here this time, with you by my side."
Ben kissed Ciara and then started to unpack their stuff.
Later on; in the night, Ben and Ciara; were putting some of Bo's presents together while Maggie played with Bo on the floor.
" Babe, I think you are putting that in the wrong way."
" What?"
" That piece in your right hand, you're putting it in the; wrong way."
Ben looked at the instructions and saw that Ciara was right. They continued putting presents together when they heard the doorbell ring.
" I got it," Ciara said as she; got off the couch.
She answered the door, and Eric was standing on the other side.
" Hey Eric, come in."
" Here are the pictures."
" Thank you so much for taking these."
" Thank you for asking me. I had a lot of fun."
" Would you like to stay; we are just putting some of Bo's toys together and hanging out in the living room."
" That would be great."
Eric and Ciara walked into the living room and saw Ben struggling. Ciara laughed at Ben and sat on the couch.
" Can I give you a hand, Ben?"
" Hope sent Bo this little play kitchen, and the refrigerator door won't go on."
" Let me take a look."
Eric and Ben sat on the floor, looking at the instructions to; figure out what was missing.
They finally got the play kitchen together, then moved on to the little slide Doug and Julie got him before putting together the push car he got from Shawn and Belle.
Once the toys were together, Ben and Eric went to take them upstairs.
" You can leave them in the living room if you want."
" Are you sure, Maggie? We don't want to clog up the living room with toys."
" It's; fine; you guys will be in here a lot, so it makes sense for the toys to be in; here."
Ben thanked Eric for his help and walked him to the door. After Eric left, Ben went upstairs to help Ciara with Bo.
Ciara was putting Bo in the bathtub when Ben walked in.
" Hey, can't have bath time without these," Ben said as he held up the two rubber duckies and the boat.
Ben joined Ciara and helped her bathe Bo. Then they played with the toys before Ben grabbed a towel and lifted Bo out of the tub.
Ben carried Bo to the bed, where Ciara was waiting to put a diaper and Pjs on Bo. Ciara dried him off and got him dressed while; Ben; went to make Bo's bottle.
Ciara sat with Bo on the bed and got a book ready, so they could read it to him while he had his bottle, something they did every night on the boat.
Ben came back with the bottle and joined them on the bed. A few minutes after they started to read, Bo had fallen asleep against Ciara.
Ciara kissed his head," I love you, baby; good night." Ben picked him up and put him in the playpen.
" Night, little man, I love you."
" He's exhausted," Ben said as he went; back to the bed.
" He had a big day, all the excitement of seeing everyone."
" Babe, look at these pictures Eric took; they're; amazing."
" He even got one of me with cake all over my face."
"Grandma Julie is going to love these."
" We will have to make copies so we can give them to her."
" We don't have to Eric gave us doubles and triples."
" Did you ask him to do that?"
" No, he knows our family."
" I love this one of the three of us."
" Just think next year it will be the four of us," Ben said as he ran his hand across Ciara's stomach.
Ciara smiled and put her hand on top of his. After looking at the pictures, Ciara set them on the nightstand and got ready for bed. Ben changed his clothes and checked on Bo before climbing into bed.
Ciara snuggled up to Ben and rested her head on his chest. Ben ran his fingers through her hair; they said good night, kissed each other, and drifted off to sleep.