Catherine walked around the corner into the living room pulling Chanel with her. Ben and Gretchen followed, his arm once more around her to calm her in the room full of new people.
“DAD! MOM!” Catherine squealed as she burst into a huge smile and ran into her parent’s open arms.
Ben smiled at the happiness on the parent’s faces. Catherine got hugs and kisses from her parents who also seemed a little overwhelmed. He guided Gretchen over to the couch where Lucy moved so Ben could seat Gretchen between them. Tina and Lucy both took one of Gretchen’s hands to help calm her. She smiled at them. Ben went to stand with Chanel who was almost trembling with her own nervousness. “You ok?” Ben whispered and got a sharp nod which obviously meant no. He didn’t press.
Catherine was holding her parent’s hands as she stood back to face them. “Mom, Dad, I know this is all rather sudden but I’d like to introduce you to Chanel Babineaux, my fiancé.”
Ben was rocked by the news but then he remembered that kiss she gave him at the door. Catherine still loved him. She wasn’t letting him go. He sighed heavily and noticed Chanel watching him anxiously.
He smiled at her. “It’s wonderful news,” Ben said gently to Chanel whose entire body seemed to relax.
“You’re fiancé? What- what about Ben?” Jack blurted.
“I love Ben! I just want to get married to Chanel as I love her too! Besides Ben is marrying Tina.” Cat explained.
“Actually, I’m marrying Gretchen.” Ben said awkwardly and felt everyone’s eyes turning his way.
Jack shook his head to shut out all the noise. “Getting back to you Cat, Chanel… wait, isn’t she the cop from France?” Jack asked, clearly confused.
“Why don’t we all sit down first?” Ben suggested and everyone moved to take a seat. Ben and Chanel carried in chairs from the dining room table for her and Cat.
The tall blonde leaned forward to speak. “Yes, Chanel was the detective we met in Paris and Nice. I fell in love with her there.”
“So… you’re gay?” Jack asked and Lynda slapped his arm. “What? I’m just trying to understand. She told us she loved someone named Ben. Well here he is! Then she announces she’s engaged to a woman… but she still loves Ben. My old brain needs to put a label on this to understand!”
“The label is Love,” Ben said.
Catherine and Chanel looked at Ben with a twinkle in their eyes. Tina, Lucy and Gretchen were also looking at him the same way and he blushed a little under their gaze.
“Yes, Ben is completely right. It’s just love. Wonderful, soul enriching love. I love Chanel with all my heart. I love Ben with all my heart. Gabriella clued me in to the fact that love isn’t divided. It’s added. I love her too! But I’m marrying Chanel.” Catherine held her father’s eyes. “You were right about Ashraf. I greatly regret not listening to you about him but then if I had I never would have had three wonderful daughters who mean the world to me! So I had to have the terribly bad to get the incredibly good! Now that Ashraf is gone I was gifted with another chance to open my heart to someone. First Ben then Chanel. I didn’t have your blessing for my first marriage and I understand and accept that. I regret your and my stubborn natures that prevented you from getting to know your grandchildren as they grew up. They are anxious to meet you now. They’re coming home on the sixth for the wedding on the seventh. I would like very much if you could walk me down the aisle this time.”
Jack was listening to his daughter carefully. Lynda was clinging tightly to his arm. He knew she’d always regretted his vehement refusal to step a foot through Catherine’s front door while she was married to Ashraf. He… regretted it too. He still hated Ashraf but that hate had stolen so much from him. Now he could see that. He looked at Chanel and could not deny that the woman was a beauty. She looked back and he saw her strength too. She was a detective and a good one apparently… in France.
“Don’t you live in France?” he asked.
“There was nothing for me there once Catherine left,” Chanel said and Jack heard Lynda sigh happily. So she was sold and he owed her so much. Jack looked at Ben and was surprised to see he looked happy as well. Jacks eyebrows went up as he sighed to himself. “The world will leave an old fossil like me behind if I don’t at least make an effort to keep up. I don’t get how all this works but I would be honored to walk you down the aisle.”
Catherine squealed with joy and leapt across the space to hug her parents who were all smiles and joy.
Chanel turned to Ben nervously as he looked at her curiously. “I have no family so I was hoping you might consider walking me down the aisle?”
“Oh! Yes, I would be honored as well,” Ben said in surprise.
“Thank you!” Chanel said as she relaxed once more.
Catherine finally returned to her chair and turned to Ben. “You’re not marrying Tina?”
Ben shook his head and looked at the woman in question. “No, she surprised me yet again with how strong her love is. When Lucy discovered she was pregnant with my child-”
“WHAT?” Cat gasped.
“Oh sorry. Yes, it’s another miracle pregnancy.” He glanced at the confusion on Catherine’s parent’s faces. “I shouldn’t be able to have children due to… an extremely low count,” he explained. He returned to his story for Catherine.
“With Lucy also carrying my child, Tina said she didn’t need to be married as I couldn’t marry Lucy as well. She said the marriage would be better used by Gretchen who would be allowed to stay once we were married. Gretchen wants to have a baby too.” The woman nodded.
“Ben, you live a very complicated life,” Jack said.
Ben just nodded as he couldn’t argue that point. “If things could just calm down a little so I could just catch my breath that would be lovely.”
The doorbell rang and Lucy jumped to her feet to answer it. She returned with a blush and a happy smile on her face as well as lipstick on her cheeks. Two beautiful redheads followed her into the living room touching up their lipstick. Ben stood and made the introductions.
Gretchen was wide eyed with shock at how beautiful the twins were and she was unable to tell them apart. How Ben did it was a complete mystery to her.
“These lovely ladies are going to take you shopping for some clothes,” Ben said to her bringing her attention back to him.
“You aren’t going too?” she said a little anxiously.
“No, I trust Lisa and Lori implicitly. They’ll take good care of you and will make sure you have a good selection of outfits. Casual as well as nicer stuff. Have fun and I’ll see you later tonight.”
As she still looked a little nervous he walked her to the door with the twins following. When they were out of sight of the others Ben pulled Gretchen close and looked into her eyes. “Do you trust me?”
Gretchen’s eyes went wide as she nodded.
“Will you… follow my instructions?” Ben said.
She nodded again.
“I will take care of you. Part of that is getting you clothes. Lisa and Lori will help you with that. Tina told you. They are mine. They will make sure you get clothes and will get you back to me.”
“Am… am I yours too?” Gretchen asked timidly.
Ben looked into her eyes, seeing the damage Rainor left behind. He really needed to get her in to see Dr. Granger. He was worried he was just making that damage worse but he didn’t know how else to calm her.
He took her face between his hands and pulled her mouth to his and kissed her until her nervous trembling stopped. He pulled back and she rested against him as she caught her breath.
“I’m tingling so much!” she whispered.
He snorted softly. “Me too.” He pulled back from Gretchen and she moved to put on her jacket and boots.
Ben pulled Lisa against his body with a tight grip on her hair. She gasped and instantly her eyes showed him he was giving her exactly what she wanted. He kissed her hard and she whimpered with need.
He ended the kiss and she looked at his mouth hungrily.
Lori was next and her soft mouth fit his perfectly and his passionate kiss drew quiet moans from her as well. When he pulled back she was gasping with need.
“Tomorrow night. Are you two available for a date?” Ben asked, his voice rumbling with his own need.
“YES!” they gasped.
“You’ll make the arrangements?” he asked and Lori nodded vigorously.
Ben held Gretchen’s eyes. “Until later.” She gave him one of her dazzling smiles then stepped outside with the twins. He heard their happy giggles as he closed the door. He stood by the door as he waited for his heart rate to get back to normal. He was so fucking stiff in his pants. He didn’t want to walk back into the living room sporting this obvious sign that he was acting like some kind of hormone raging teenager. He felt a gentle hand on his back and turned. Lucy was smiling up at him.
She reached up with a tissue and wiped the lipstick from his mouth. She eyed the cleanup she did with a critical eye then smiled. “You’re presentable again.” They walked back into the living room, Ben shielded from view behind Lucy. He noticed everyone, except Tina, was on their feet.
“We’re going out to dinner to celebrate. Would you like to join us?” Catherine said with a smile.
“Thanks but I think I’ll stay in tonight. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.” Ben said, Tina and Lucy nodding in agreement.
“Thank you again for the use of your guest room and shower,” Jack said holding his hand out.
Ben shook his hand then bent down to kiss Lynda’s cheek. “You are both welcome any time.”
Jack went to get their suitcases then joined his wife, daughter, and future… daughter-in-law? He gave his head a shake. They said their goodbyes then Ben was alone with Tina and Lucy.
“So… how are you both feeling?” Ben asked, looking them in the eye. He saw their excited smiles.
“We are feeling good,” Tina said with an impish grin. Lucy nodded happily.
“I was thinking of taking a short nap… in the bedroom,” Ben said, a small smile slipping onto his lips.
“That sounds like a good idea! I think we might join you!” Lucy said with a grin.
“Get the crutches,” Ben said to Lucy as he scooped Tina up in his arms and rushed down the hallway. The phone rang as they got into the bedroom.