Kiriakis Mansion
Three days Before Halloween
Ben and Ciara had the mansion to themselves, Maggie was going out of town, and no one else was staying there.
Before leaving, Maggie asked if Ben and Ciara would decorate for Halloween and hand out candy because she never missed a year. They said they would be happy to do it.
After Maggie left, Ben grabbed boxes of decorations from the closet and started putting them up.
" Hey babe, do you know how Maggie sets up the front yard?"
" Let me get the photo album so I can show you a picture."
Ciara struggled to get off the couch.
" Ben, can you help me up?"
" Coming."
Ben helped Ciara up, and she grabbed the photo album off the shelf.
She flipped through the album and found the picture she was looking for.
" This is how they set it up."
" Wow, that's impressive. I might need to call Shawn to help me with this."
" I can help you, baby."
" You are eight months pregnant; the only thing you need to do is sit and relax."
" Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't help you."
" Thank you for the offer. But there is a lot of heavy lifting, and I don't want you to get hurt."
" Fine, call Shawn," Ciara said as Ben kissed her forehead and walked away.
Ten minutes later, Shawn showed up to help him. Belle came to keep Ciara company while Bo played in the living room.
" Ciara found this picture of what it should look like."
" Perfect, let's get started."
Ben and Shawn got to work in the front yard. They set up the tombstones for the graveyard and put out the skeletons and the signs.
Next, they put up the giant spider web and the caution tape. They set up the staked pumpkins by the front door. Shawn grabbed the wheelbarrow full of dirt, and Ben put the skeleton head and bones inside.
They grabbed the giant spiders, put them on the house, and hung the ghosts and bats from the trees.
" Looks good; we are missing the hands coming out of the ground."
" I couldn't find them."
" They have to be here somewhere. Go check that box over there."
Shawn and Ben looked through all the boxes but didn't find the hands.
" Did you miss a box?"
" I don't think so. I'll go check."
A minute later, Ben came out with another box.
" There in here, Ben said as he held up the box."
Back in the house, Ciara and Belle watched Bo play with his toys.
" How are you feeling?"
" Annoyed."
" Why?"
" Ben won't let me do anything."
" What do you mean?"
" I offered to help him decorate, and he told me to sit and relax."
" Well, you are eight months pregnant; he's just worried about you and the baby; that's all."
" I know; I just wish he would relax and let me help him."
" Can I get you something to drink?"
" I can get it."
" You are a guest; I will get it."
Ciara used the arm of the couch to get up and went to the kitchen to grab some drinks.
Ciara returned with two glasses of iced tea and handed one to Belle.
" Thank you."
" So, have you picked a costume for Bo yet?"
" I've got it narrowed down to three." Ciara grabbed her phone to show Belle what she had picked out.
" Baby Lion, Baby Biker, and Baby Mechanic."
" Those are all really cute."
" I just have to decide which one to go with."
" Well, if you want my vote, I would go with that one Belle said as she pointed to one of the pictures."
" I like that one too."
" What did Ben say?"
" He wants me to surprise him; maybe I'll ask Shawn for his vote and then decide."
" Good Idea."
They continued talking until the guys came in; Bo saw Ben put his hands up and said, "Dada."
" Hey, Buddy," Ben lifted Bo off the floor and held him.
" Are you all finished out there?"
" Yep, everything is set up. I have to go to the store and get the candy for the trick-or-treaters."
" Would you guys like to stay for dinner? I'm making steaks."
" Sounds good."
Ben set Bo back down to play.
" I'll give you a hand, Ben," Belle said as she followed him to the kitchen.
Shawn sat next to Ciara on the couch and asked how she was.
" I'm fine, just trying to decide on a costume for Bo; I have three options."
" Can I see them?"
" Sure, Belle already told me which one she likes."
" Shawn looked at the pictures and told Ciara which one he liked."
In the kitchen, Ben and Belle were working on dinner.
" Ben, I'm going to say something."
" Okay."
" You need to let Ciara help out more."
" What did she say?"
" Just that she's annoyed that you won't let her do anything."
" She is eight months pregnant; I want her to relax."
" I know you do, but you have to let her do things because if you don't, she might hurt you," Belle laughed as she took something out of the fridge.
Ben just smiled at her and went back to cooking.
" Okay, I will loosen up and let her help me more."
Ciara and Shawn brought Bo to the dining room, put him in his high chair, and started setting the table.
" Dinner is ready; steaks for the guys and chicken for the ladies."
" Thank you, baby," Ciara said as she took the plate from Ben.
Ciara started serving while Ben grabbed drinks.
Ciara and Belle had iced tea, Bo had water, and Ben and Shawn had a beer.
Ciara put some food on Bo's plate and gave it to him.
They laughed as they watched Bo try to feed himself with the spoon. After he kept missing, he used his fingers.
Bo picked up a piece of chicken, held it up, and said, " Mama."
" You eat it, baby."
Bo looked at the chicken and said, "Mama."
Ciara smiled at him before letting him feed her the piece.
He smiled and clapped his hands before picking up another piece and shoving it in his mouth.
After dinner, Ciara and Belle did the dishes while the guys played with Bo.
Ben and Shawn were building a tower, and Bo was watching; the second Shawn went to pick up another block, Bo knocked the tower over and laughed.
" Bo, that's not nice."
" It's okay; we can build it again."
Bo lost interest and went to play with something else.
Back in the kitchen, Ciara and Belle had just finished the dishes, getting dessert ready, when Ciara said to Belle, " I don't know what you said to Ben earlier, but thank you."
" I told him he needs to let you help more, or you're going to hurt him."
Ciara laughed as she placed the dessert on the tray.
They walked into the living room, and Ciara said, " I've been craving chocolate cake, so that's what we have for dessert."
Ciara served the cake, and everyone had some.
Bo went over to Ciara and opened his mouth; she put a little piece on the fork and fed it to him.
Belle and Shawn said it was getting late and they should go. Ben thanked Shawn for his help with the decorations, and they thanked them for dinner and dessert.
They hugged them goodbye and left.
Once Bo was down for the night, Ciara and Ben got in bed and talked.
" I'm sorry about earlier not letting you help me."
" Baby, I know you're worried about us, but I can do things, and if I need your help, trust me, I will ask for it."
" Okay, I will let you help more; I won't hover.
" Thank you," Ciara said as she leaned over and kissed him.
Halloween Night
Ben put the candy in bowls by the front door while Ciara was getting Bo ready.
Once Bo was dressed. Ciara asked Ben if he was ready.
" I'm ready; let's see what you picked out."
Ciara held Bo's hand, and they walked out together.
Ben smiled when he saw them walk out. Bo is in his lion costume, holding his bear.
" What do you think?"
" I love it; he's a little lion."
" You did great, babe; he is so cute."
" I know he will just be here with us handing out candy, but I thought it would be cute for him to have a costume."
" I could take him to a couple of houses?"
" I don't know, babe; he's still little and can't even eat the candy yet."
" I know, but we can."
" Okay, take him to a few houses and see how it goes."
" I should dress up too."
" Your costume is in the living room."
" Really?"
" Yep. Go change"
" I'll be right back," Ben kissed Ciara quickly and went to the living room.
Five minutes later, Ben came back dressed and ready to go."
'Ciara, I can't wear this."
" Babe, you look great."
" I look ridiculous."
" Do it for Bo."
" That's not fair."
" Please Ciara said as she gave him her pouty face."
" Fine for you and Bo, I will wear this."
" My smoking hot lion," Ciara said as she kissed him.
Ciara looked at Bo and said.," My adorable little lion."
" Come on, little lion. Let's go get some candy, " Ben said as he picked Bo up.
" Wait, let me get a picture of you guys."
Ben groaned but let Ciara take a picture.
Ben took Bo's bear and handed it to Ciara.
" No."
" Bo, leave it here with Mommy so you don't lose it."
Bo let Ciara take his bear.
Ciara kissed them both before saying, " Have fun and be safe."
" We will."
Shortly after they left, Ciara sent the picture to Belle, Marlena, Hope, and Rafe.
Ciara had just sent the picture when there was a knock on the door.
Ciara opened the door, and the kids said, " Trick-or-Treat."
She passed out the candy and told them how great their costumes were.
Ben and Bo weren't gone very long when they returned. Bo was having a meltdown.
The second Bo saw Mommy, he held his arms out to her.
" Mama."
Ciara took Bo from Ben and asked him to watch the door while she calmed Bo down.
" Shh, it's okay, sweetheart, Mommy's here."
Ciara handed Bo his bear and watched him hug it.
Bo rested his head on her shoulder and started to calm down.
Ciara continued to rock Bo while Ben answered the door.
Ten minutes later, Ciara returned with a happy little lion.
" Now that he's calm, what happened?"
" Everything was going fine until this; one guy jumped out and scared Bo."
" The guy apologized five times; he didn't know Bo was that little."
Bo continued to rest his head on her shoulder, and Ciara kissed his forehead.
More kids showed up, and Ben handed out the candy while Ciara sat with Bo.
Ben's phone went off, and he looked at it.
" Hey babe, did you send that picture to anyone?"
" Why?"
" Because I just got a text from Dr. Evans saying you guys make a cute lion duo."
" Well, you do."
" Ciara, who else did you send this to?"
" Just Belle, my mom, Marlena, and Rafe."
" I'm never going to live this down."
" You, Ben Weston, are a very sexy lion."
" Yeah?"
" Oh, yeah."
" Roar."
"Roar," Ciara said back.
Ben leaned down and kissed his wife; he groaned when there was a knock at the door.
" We have the house to ourselves, and we're still being interrupted."
Ciara laughed and said, " Answer the door; I'll make it up to you later."
"Hmm, okay," Ben pulled away from his wife to answer the door.
They were impressed with all the costumes the kids were wearing. There were superheroes, an astronaut, a unicorn, princesses, and a bee.
Later in the night, they put Bo to bed and then went through the candy Bo got.
" It's too bad Bo can't eat this candy; it's so good," Ben said as he put another piece in his mouth.
Ciara laughed at him as she watched him eat the candy.
" I am going upstairs to take a bath; would you like to join me, or are you busy with your candy?" Ciara said as she got off the couch.
" I'm never too busy for you, love."
Ben followed Ciara up the stairs to their room. Ben went to the bathroom and started the bath while Ciara took her clothes off and grabbed her robe.
She helped Ben out of his costume, and he took his clothes off; they shared a kiss before going into the bathroom.
Once the tub was full, Ben shut the tap off, helped Ciara into the tub, and got in behind her.
They sat there in the water relaxing, Ben kissing Ciara's neck, listening to her sigh in contentment.
" This is so nice."
" It is."
Ciara ran her hand over her stomach and said, " I can't believe that next month, we will have another baby."
" I know it went by so fast," Ben said while putting his hand on hers.
" Baby is kicking hard."
" Just like Bo did."
" I can't wait to see what Bo is like with the baby."
" Me too."
" I'm ready to get out and get in bed."
" Are you tired?"
" I said I was ready to get in bed, not go to bed," Ciara said as she kissed Ben.
Ciara had just put on her robe when Ben picked her up, carried her to the bed, and gently laid her down.
He hovered over her and looked into her eyes before he leaned down to kiss her.
" I love you so much, babe."
" I love you more."
Ben went to kiss Ciara again when they were interrupted by Bo yelling Mama.
Ben rested his head on Ciara's forehead. Ciara gave him a quick kiss, and he helped her up.
Ciara walked into Bo's room and saw him standing in his crib.
" What's wrong, sweetheart?
Bo held his arms up and said, " Mama."
Ciara picked Bo up, and he rested his head on her shoulder while she rubbed his back.
Ciara held him and swayed back and forth. She sat in the chair with Bo on her lap, and he rested his head on her chest.
" You want Mommy to tell you a story?"
Ciara ran her fingers through Bo's hair and told him the story of how Mommy and Daddy met.
Ben noticed Ciara had been gone for a while, so he went to check on her.
He walked in and saw Ciara and Bo sound asleep in the chair.
Ben rubbed his hand against her cheek.
" Hey."
" Hey, you fell asleep."
" Here, let me take him."
Ciara kissed Bo's head before Ben picked him up and put him back in his crib.
Ben helped Ciara out of the chair; they looked at Bo again and left.
They went back to their room and got in bed.
" Was everything okay with Bo?"
" Yeah, he just wanted a cuddle."
Ciara yawned, and Ben noticed.
" We should get some sleep."
Ciara cuddled as close as she could and fell asleep right away.
Ben kissed Ciara's forehead and closed his eyes.