When I'm With You
It was Lindy's first experience with Valentine's Day ever and Ben decided giving in to his goofiest impulses was the best way to indoctrinate her. He planned a picnic to take advantage of their immunity to the cold, packed it full of foods most fun to eat together, and circled the blanket with little gifts: candy, flowers, two bears with magnetic noses that made her giggle when he demonstrated their kissing, and a brightly wrapped box with a soft pink bow.
He'd waffled on the necklace, anything he chose seemed too obvious and the only jewelry he'd ever seen Lindy wear was his sister's engagement ring, on a cord around her neck during Amelia's cheer competitions and exhibitions. But he also wanted to give her something that wasn't just silly. He considered a pendant of a dancer to represent her but it seemed off for the occasion. He considered a lightning bolt to represent him but that seemed off for their relationship. He settled on a simple silver chain with a small heart charm and was rewarded with a bright smile when she opened it. Ben grinned, picked up the necklace and leaned over to clasp it around her neck.
The heart dropped into place as Ben secured the latch. He met her eyes and pressed his lips to her forehead, nose, and finally lips, pulling her close for a deep kiss. They fell together against the ground, entwined and tingling. They'd never needed words for these moments, Ben pulled his shirt off and started to tug at her dress. But Lindy sat back.
"I want to say something." She seemed out of breath. "What I feel." Ben smiled encouragement. "But I don't know how. And I'm scared."
Ben considered. Lindy didn't just listen to the words he used when he spoke. She also paid attention to when and where and, as she'd just indicated, put a lot of emphasis on how it was said. It was important to be as clear as he could and not confuse, or scare, her any more than she already was. He took a breath and considered.
"You don't have to say anything," he began, "If the words don't come, or you're scared. Feelings are scary. And hard to describe. For everybody." Lindy was listening, very attentive, and notably not blinking. He reached out and took her hand.
"But I don't think there's only one way to say anything. However you say it is 'right' for you, and me, in that moment. And I don't want you to ever be scared to say something to me. I promise to listen before I react. And if you ever think I'm not you can tell me that, too." He waited until she nodded, then moved closer and brushed the hair from her face with a gentle hand.
"I love you, Lindy." He kissed her softly and she wanted it to last forever. Maybe if she never said how she felt they'd let her stay here. She thought it's what she wanted even if it was a lie. Ben pulled back to meet her eyes and she tried to force all the fear in them away. But she knew he could see it anyway and part of her knew that's why it mattered. She placed a hand against his chest; his heartbeat calmed her.
"I'm sorry." It was a whisper. Ben shook his head.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." She breathed and fell against him, touching as much of his body with her own as she could. In seconds they were entwined again and back to what they'd started.
He'd waffled on the necklace, anything he chose seemed too obvious and the only jewelry he'd ever seen Lindy wear was his sister's engagement ring, on a cord around her neck during Amelia's cheer competitions and exhibitions. But he also wanted to give her something that wasn't just silly. He considered a pendant of a dancer to represent her but it seemed off for the occasion. He considered a lightning bolt to represent him but that seemed off for their relationship. He settled on a simple silver chain with a small heart charm and was rewarded with a bright smile when she opened it. Ben grinned, picked up the necklace and leaned over to clasp it around her neck.
The heart dropped into place as Ben secured the latch. He met her eyes and pressed his lips to her forehead, nose, and finally lips, pulling her close for a deep kiss. They fell together against the ground, entwined and tingling. They'd never needed words for these moments, Ben pulled his shirt off and started to tug at her dress. But Lindy sat back.
"I want to say something." She seemed out of breath. "What I feel." Ben smiled encouragement. "But I don't know how. And I'm scared."
Ben considered. Lindy didn't just listen to the words he used when he spoke. She also paid attention to when and where and, as she'd just indicated, put a lot of emphasis on how it was said. It was important to be as clear as he could and not confuse, or scare, her any more than she already was. He took a breath and considered.
"You don't have to say anything," he began, "If the words don't come, or you're scared. Feelings are scary. And hard to describe. For everybody." Lindy was listening, very attentive, and notably not blinking. He reached out and took her hand.
"But I don't think there's only one way to say anything. However you say it is 'right' for you, and me, in that moment. And I don't want you to ever be scared to say something to me. I promise to listen before I react. And if you ever think I'm not you can tell me that, too." He waited until she nodded, then moved closer and brushed the hair from her face with a gentle hand.
"I love you, Lindy." He kissed her softly and she wanted it to last forever. Maybe if she never said how she felt they'd let her stay here. She thought it's what she wanted even if it was a lie. Ben pulled back to meet her eyes and she tried to force all the fear in them away. But she knew he could see it anyway and part of her knew that's why it mattered. She placed a hand against his chest; his heartbeat calmed her.
"I'm sorry." It was a whisper. Ben shook his head.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." She breathed and fell against him, touching as much of his body with her own as she could. In seconds they were entwined again and back to what they'd started.