Chapter 10. Bumps of the Night
Two weeks later found Kili asleep in their bed, kittens curled between them. Naomi's phone rang shrilly and the pair started awake gasping.
Naomi flopped back onto the bed and groaned, pulling the phone off of the bedside table and checked the number.
"Benny." She breathed. Benny never called like this. Something was wrong.
"Hello?"
"Naomi?" Benny sounded shaken and like he'd been crying.
"Benny, what's wrong? Where are you? Is everything okay?"
Benny's voice was rough and choked, not at all it's usual smooth bartitone . "I'm coming over. I'll explain everything there."
"Okay. Kili won't be wearing much." Naomi added the last bit trying to be playful.
Another humorless chuckle and Benny managed to sound seductive. "Promise?"
"Absolutely. Be safe. Luffles."
"Luffles Doll."
Naomi sat up in the bed and softly slapped the bare chest of a certain sleeping person.
Kili jerked. "Oi. That's sensitive."
"Speaking of sensitive, Benny's coming over and it sounds big." Naomi was trying not to lay down and fall back to sleep.
"It'd better be. It's freaking four o'clock in the morning."
Naomi blushed, remembering her only-halfway joking promise to Benny. "I may have also promised him a certain person, who shall at this point remain nameless, would be in a rather advanced state of nudity."
"I. Am not. Flashing him." Kili cracked open one eye.
Naomi dissolved into giggles. "Wouldn't ask you to."
Just then a knock sounded.
"M'coming!" Naomi shouted, hissing over her shoulder at Kili to put a damn shirt on.
Naomi opened the door to the sight of the one person that she never thought that she would see cry sobbing against the doorjamb.
"Oh my God! Benny get in out of the rain! What's wrong?!"
Benny stumbled in and wrapped his arms around Naomi. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't come over like this but my dad kicked me out and John's dad caught him with me about a half an hour ago and I didn't know where else I could go. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Benny sobbed on Naomi as she led them into the living room, sitting them down on the couch. Naomi pulled Benny's torso between her knees and the back of his head against her chest. Benny curled on his side and just cried.
"You don't have to talk until you're ready. I'll be here as long as you want me." Naomi said, running one hand over his arm and the other wound in his hair.
"I came out to my dad just a few days ago and he wasn't very happy. He kicked me out and I was staying with John until I got on my feet." Benny's voice cracked at multiple points, showing the depth of his emotional state.
"Who's John?"
"My boyfriend. Anyway, his Dad caught us just a bit ago and he...well he freaked the hell out saying that I was a devil worshiper intent on converting his son to my dark master and how his son was not going to become an abomination like me. And then he started beating on John with the big cross on the wall, screaming that he was giving in to temptation and that God had given him up. The only thing I could think to do was run. Run before he killed me. This was the only safe place that I could think of. I'm sorry. I should go."
"Ha-ha. The fuck you will."
Benny started to rise and Naomi pushed him to his knees. "You aren't going anywhere. Stay with Kili and I as long as you need to. You're safe here."
He sniffled. "Promise?"
"Yes. Always."
"Hold me?"
"C'mere." Naomi opened her arms and he clambered into them like a child, pressing his ear to the place just above her heart and pulling his arms and legs close to his body. Naomi wrapped her arms over his shoulder, stroking his hair and humming.
Benny cried himself to sleep in her arms.
Hours later Naomi woke with empty arms and the smell of pancakes, sausage and eggs filling the air.
"Benny?" She called from the couch. "Kili?"
"Naomi stay in the living room!" Kili answered her.
This did not inspire any such thought in the young woman. "What are you doing?"
Benny had anticipated this reaction and moved to block her, scooping her into his arms and carrying her into her bedroom.
"Benjamin! Put me down! I want to know what you two are doing to my kitchen!"
"Stay." Benny deadpanned as he dumped her on the bed.
"BENNY! NOOOOOO! KIIILIIII!"
The door locked and Kili's laughter resonated through the door. "Consider this your punishment for leaving me in a cold bed last night!"
"Kili! I'm sorry! I love you! I'll do what ever you want, just please, please let me out!"
Whispers on the other side of the door. Chuckles and then silence.
Benny's voice echoed. "Stay here until we come and get you, nothing is going to go wrong. Just be patient please."
Naomi groaned and hit her head on the door. "Ow. How long?"
"About another ten minutes. Be in the bed when we knock." Kili said
"Fiine." Naomi grumbled.
After about fifteen minutes a knock sounded at the bedroom door.
"On the bed with eyes closed!" Benny called.
"This'd better be good." Naomi did as she was told and soon after she heard the lock pop open.
Something was rested on her legs and she opened her eyes. An aluminum tray was heaped with sausages, pancakes, bacon, biscuits, toast, a tureen of white gravy, and three mugs of coffee, made to personal taste.
Benny grinned widely. "I made the biscuits, the gravy and the sausage. Kili made the rest."
Kili smiled at Naomi lovingly. "That is to say the easy stuff."
"I love this! Why? I mean, what for?"
"You're the favorite woman in all of our lives. You've been there for both of us and we just wanted to say thank you. And we love you."
Benny's small speech nearly brought Naomi to tears. "Come here you two."
She moved the platter off of her lap and opened her arms. The boys clunked onto the bed beside her and tucked their heads underneath.
"I love you both. Always."
Suddenly the kittens jumped into Naomi's lap and mewled for food. "Don't worry, I love you too."
Giggling the group descended on to their breakfast, from there to showers and dressing. At about lunchtime Naomi got a text from her mom.
"Hey Kee?" She called to Kili from the couch.
"Yeah?"
"What's the plan for today?"
"Didn't have one, per se. Why?"
"Mom invited us, being you, me, the kittens and Benny, to a Birthday dinner for Charlie. Did you want to go?"
Two voices rang out. "Yes! Why wouldn't I?"
Naomi laughed. "That was just weird. Lets head over there in about a half an hour, 'kay?"
Benny cried out. "NO! I have no time to get properly dressed!"
"Oh for the love of God, just wear the purple shirt, slacks, and your dinner jacket!" Kili called to him.
"Fine!" Benny huffed.
Naomi shook her head laughing.
A.N. OMG I"M SOOO SORRY! I didn't realize that I would be without my laptop for sooo long! I hope you guys enjoyed this little happy-family filler/rising action chapter as an I'm Sorry Gift! As always RnR!