Surprise Visit
Kiriakis Mansion
Ben had gone to the store, and Ciara was cuddling with Bo on the couch.
Bo rested on her shoulder as she ran her hand up and down his back. She kissed his forehead and said, " I think it's time for a nap."
Ciara stood up and went to go upstairs when there was a knock at the door.
" Who could that be, Bo?"
Ciara opened the the door and saw Claire standing there.
" Oh, my god, Claire, what are you doing here?"
Ciara hugged Claire and then pulled back.
" My mom called and told me about my dad being suspended from the job for drinking."
" Yeah, we tried to talk to him, but he didn't want to listen."
" I'm sorry, come in."
Claire walked in, and Ciara shut the door.
" Bo, can you say hi?"
Bo lifted his head up and then placed it back down.
" Bo, are you being shy?"
Claire watched Ciara talk to Bo.
Ciara looked at Claire and said, " What?"
" Sorry, I'm just not used to seeing you like this."
" Like what?"
" A mom. You're a mom."
" Soon to be a mom of two."
" I know. Congratulations."
" Thanks. I have to put him down for a nap, and then we can catch up."
" I'll come with you."
" Sure."
They took Bo upstairs, and Ciara placed Bo in his crib.
Claire watched as Ciara ran her fingers through Bo's hair until he closed his eyes.
They headed back downstairs to the living room so they could catch up.
" So, how are you?"
" I'm good. I really like working with J.J. and Theo."
" That's great. How is Theo?"
" He's good."
" Where's Ben?"
" He went to the store; he should be back soon."
" I heard you guys are staying here for a while."
" Yeah, after we found out about my dad, we decided to stay in Salem for a while in case anything happened."
" Well, I just stopped by to let you know I was in town. I have to go get a room at the Salem Inn."
" Why are you staying there?"
" My mom is still at my grandma's, and Brady is there, so there is no room, and my mom doesn't want me staying with my dad."
" You could stay with us. Maggie is out of town, and it's just us here."
" No one else is here?"
" I know it's weird; normally, this place is full."
" I would love to stay."
Ciara heard the front door open. Ben was home.
" Hey, babe, I got everything on the list and something special for you."
Ben walked into the living room and saw Ciara and Claire talking.
" Claire, what a nice surprise."
" Hey, Ben."
" Oh my god, what happened to your face?"
" Your mom didn't tell you."
" Tell me what?"
" Your dad hit Ben."
" I'm so sorry."
" It's fine, I'm okay."
Ben left to put things away.
" Why did my dad hit him?"
" Ben went to talk to him and tried to sober up by taking him to coffee. Your dad said he didn't want to and shoved Ben against the wall and punched him."
" Have you talked to him?"
"I've sent a few texts, but no response."
" I want to see him. I just don't want to go alone."
" When I went to see him, I brought Brady."
" Good choice."
Ciara and Claire were laughing when Ben walked in.
" Claire, will you be staying for dinner?"
" Actually, she will be staying here with us while she's in town."
" Great. Gives you too a chance to catch up."
" Can I get you a drink?"
" Water would be great, thanks."
" Babe, what can I get you?"
" I'm fine."
" Are you sure?"
" Yes."
Ben returned with water for both of them.
" You need to stay hydrated."
Ciara just shook her head.
" I'm going to check on Bo."
"Everything okay with you guys?"
" Yeah, he's just overprotective."
" Did something happen?"
" The day after Bo's birthday, I wound up in the hospital."
" What happened?"
" I was dehydrated, and I passed out in the bathroom; your mom found me and called 9-1-1."
" Oh my god."
" Ever since then, he's been a little overprotective."
" I think it's sweet."
" It is, but it can also be frustrating."
" You're lucky you have someone who loves you. The way Ben does."
" Are you seeing anyone?"
" I am, but before we talk about that, I have to tell you something I've been keeping from you."
" What's up?"
" I kissed Ben."
Ciara just smiled as she watched Claire let out a breath.
" It was one time you had just served him with divorce papers. He was missing you. I swear it didn't mean anything. He pulled away because he only wanted to be with you."
Ciara just smiled as Claire rambled.
Ciara placed her hand on Claire's and said, "Claire, I know about the kiss."
" You do?"
" Ben told me when we were at the cabin."
" He did?"
" I don't blame you. It's in the past. You can relax now."
" Tell me about the guy you're dating."
" It's Theo."
" You and Theo?"
" Yep, it's only been a few months, but it's going well."
" That's great. I'm happy for you."
" Thanks."
" Sorry to interrupt, but little man wants his mommy."
" Come here, Bo."
Ben placed Bo in Ciara's lap and then went to check on dinner.
" Sorry, he's been really clingy."
" He is so cute."
" Hey, buddy, Claire said as she touched his hand. Bo looked at Claire and then grabbed her finger.
Bo started to wiggle, so Ciara put him down so he could play with his toys.
" I'm going to check on Ben. Could you watch Bo for a minute?"
" Sure."
Ciara went to the kitchen, and Claire joined Bo.
Ben was standing at the stove when Ciara wrapped her arms around him.
He spun around and kissed her.
" Hey, how's it going with Claire?"
" Good, I'm glad she's here."
" Where is Bo?"
" Bonding with his cousin."
" Dinner is almost ready."
" What are we having?"
" Chicken, potatoes, and salad."
" You said earlier you got me something special."
" I did."
" What is it?"
" Look in the fridge."
Ciara opened the door and saw the chocolate cake.
" You got me a chocolate cake."
" I know you've been craving chocolate."
" Dinner is ready. Let's go get Claire and Bo."
They walked back into the living room and saw Claire and Bo playing with the guitar Claire gave him. Bo smiled every time Claire pushed a button and made it sing.
" He loves that guitar."
Bo turned when he heard Ciara's voice.
" Dinner is ready."
Claire stood up and held Bo's hand as they went to the kitchen.
" How cute are they," Ciara said as she watched them walk to the kitchen.
"I'm starving, let's eat."
Ben and Ciara followed Claire and Bo to the kitchen.
" Ben, that was great," Claire said as she grabbed their plates.
"Thanks, you don't have to clean up."
" You cooked, I'll clean up."
Claire grabbed the plates and started doing the dishes.
" Babe, why don't you take Bo to the living room, and I'll help Claire."
Ciara kissed Ben and then picked up Bo.
Ben grabbed a couple of bowls off the table and walked to the sink.
" It's nice to see you guys so happy after everything you've been through."
" You seem happy, too?"
" I will be once my dad agrees to get some help."
" I'm sure once he knows you are back and sees you, he will realize he needs help."
" I hope so. My mom is really worried about him."
Ben and Claire finished cleaning the kitchen and then joined Ciara and Bo.
" I'm going to go see my mom. I'll be back later."
Claire left, and Ben and Ciara watched Bo play with his toys.
" It's almost 7:30. We have to give Bo a bath and get him ready for bed."
They took Bo upstairs, gave him a bath, and got him ready for bed.
They cuddled in bed and read him a story. Ciara kissed him and said goodnight before Ben took him across the hall.
Once Bo was down, Ben went back to the bedroom.
" He's asleep."
" Mmm, that means we get to have some alone time," Ciara said as she kissed her husband.
They continued kissing until they removed their clothes and made love.
After they made love, they lay cuddled in the sheets. Ciara had her head resting on his shoulder as she ran her finger over his chest.
" Baby, will you do something for me?"
" Anything."
" Will you get me a piece of chocolate cake and a glass of milk?"
" Of course I will."
Ben kissed her and then got out of bed. He slipped on his pajama pants and left the room.
He walked down the stairs just as Claire walked in.
" Hey Claire, how's your mom?"
" She's good. Sorry, did I interrupt something?"
" Not at all; I'm just getting some cake for Ciara."
" It's been a long day. I'm going to head to bed, goodnight."
" Goodnight."
Ben grabbed what he needed and then headed upstairs.
" Here we go, chocolate cake, strawberries, and a glass of milk," Ben said as he placed the tray on the bed.
Ciara grabbed the glass of milk and took a sip.
" So good," she said as she placed it on the nightstand.
Ben got back in bed and started feeding Ciara cake.
" Mmm, delicious."
" Yeah?"
" Here, try some," Ciara said as she fed him a piece.
" That is good."
They finished eating, and Ben placed the tray on the nightstand.
They continued to cuddle and watch T.V. before they fell asleep.