This goes to Erica's perspective from the last chapter.

Erica's House
Living Room
9:00 AM
Saturday
June 13th

Erica's POV:
I woke up and felt Ben's head gently resting on mine. I blushed. Wait, is he whispering? I can't hear what he's saying. I turned on my phone in my pocket and started recording him. Man he talked for a while. 

"What did I do to deserve someone like Erica.... She's sooo amazing, and I'm just a nerdy boy from D.C. I love her so much, but she deserves better. So much better. I love how strong and independent she can be, but I also really love how sweet and vulnerable she can be. I love her soft, shiny, dark hair that looks perfect no matter what. I love her ice blue eyes that sparkle in the light, but seem to glow at night. I love how I'm the first person she's felt she could trust, since Joshua, who betrayed her and broke her heart. I love how she got a car the same color as my eyes, because she didn't want to forget them. I love how I did the exact same thing that she did, with the exact same car. I love how she knows me and can tell what I'm feeling and how to help. I love her strong will and ability to do anything. I love how she is loyal and will do anything to protect what she cares about. I love how stubborn she can be. I love how fear can't get in her way, because she'll do it anyways. I love her smile that can light up the room, no, does light up the room. I love her laugh, it makes me feel like I can't be sad. I love her giggle, so sweet and cute, but so rare to hear. I love how smart and quick-thinking she is. I love how amazing she is. I love how her mom wants her to be happy and how she thinks I can make Erica happy. I love how her dad thinks of me like a son and how he tries his best to help. God, it would be faster to list things I don't love about her. In fact why don't I do that, oh wait, I can't because there isn't a single damn thing I don't love about her. I could die the happiest man ever, as long as I die with Erica, or even knowing that she likes me, some nerdy boy from D.C. What did I do to deserve her: she deserves so much more."

 Awwww... he was talking about how much he likes me! Wait, is he thinking about breaking up with me because he doesn't think he's good enough!?! No! We finally started dating yesterday. We can't break up yet! I laughed, Ben can't be thinking that. Could he? I felt him kinda jump. I forgot that he thought I was still asleep. Oops. Is he crying? 

I looked into his eyes and said, "Ben, you have saved my life and the world more times than I can remember, you helped me trust people again, and so much more. You don't need to think you deserve me; you need to know it. I love you and whether you think you deserve me or not, I know you do and that's all that matters. Hey, Ben, calm down...it's okay, I love you and I always have. But please, trust me, I love you and I don't want anyone but you." I rubbed his back and hugged him; I hate seeing him like this. "Ben, I love you. I almost feel bad for recording you saying all that!" I giggled.

He looked up, "WHAT?" 

"Well, when you lifted your head off of mine, I woke up and heard you say something about me so I recorded it because I couldn't hear you very well since you were whispering." 

He looked shocked; he must have thought he was thinking it! 

"I was whispering? I thought I was thinking it! I'm such an idiot!" He looked down, turning bright red. 

"Yeah, you were. But...I'm glad you were because a few days ago I was worried that you forgot me or didn't like me and that I missed my chance. But, now I know that I was wrong and was worried for no reason besides, I love you and felt that I wasn't good enough for you."

He looked up and whispered, "Really...how could I forget you? I've loved you since the second I saw you." he, thankfully stopped crying and said, "Can you please delete it before you send it to anyone?" 

"Well, about that...I already sent it to someone." I said sheepishly. 

"What!?! Who?" 

"Cyrus." I whispered. 

"CYRUS!?! But he hates me and he's gonna hate me even more now that he knows we're dating. If I so much as make you sad, one tiny slip up, and I'm DEAD MEAT!" 

"Calm down, I only sent it to him to prove that you really care about me." 

"Ohhhhhh..." He face-palmed, laughing. "That would make sense, my bad." He whispered sheepishly. 

"And, when I told him, I made him promise not to hurt you, unless you betray me like Joshua, then you really will be dead meat." I said, still gigging. "But I know you and I know you're not like him. So you should be pretty safe, for now." 

He started laughing, "I'll be extra careful, and there's no way that I could ever betray anyone, let alone you." He hugged me, "I love you way too much for that." 

"I know."

He smiled and kissed me, but, someone opened the door and whoever it was, had the key, so they walked in to us with his arms around me, kissing on the couch, under a blanket with tears all over his face. It was my mom. She was blushing with a huge smile. We pulled away but he left his arm around my shoulders. 

"Ahem...Hello sweetheart, hello Benjamin, so I believe this means that I was correct Erica?"

We both blushed so much, we looked like a couple of strawberries. 

"Yes..." 

All he said was, "Oh...hey. It's good to see you." He waved awkwardly, and then moved his hand to behind his neck. 

She smiled, "And it's great to see you!" She said cheerfully. 

Did she not see me and Ben kissing? 

"To answer your question Benjamin, yes, I saw you two kissing, but I'm really happy for you. To be honest, I always hoped you two would be together." 

"MOM!!!" I got even more embarrassed, I didn't know it was possible to blush more. 

"So, you're not mad at me for kissing your daughter?" 

She smiled mischievously and said, "Not as long as you answer a few questions." 

"Ok...what?" Oh boy, here we go again! 

"Question 1, When was the first time you two kissed?" 

"Oh no." He looked at me, confused. 

I responded with, "5 minutes ago." I mean, it was worth a shot. 

Mom looked irritated, "I should have specified I want them answered honestly. I can tell that you're lying. Ben, when was it?" he looked between the two of us and I glared at him. 

"Um, can I get a different question, I promised Erica I wouldn't tell anyone." 

"No, I would like you tell me when it was." I looked over and nodded. 

"When we defused the nuclear bomb during Operation: Snow Bunny. We thought we didn't defuse it, so she kissed me because she didn't want me to freak out or have a bad last seconds on Earth." He muttered quietly. 

She nodded, "Question 2, how many times have you two kissed?" 

This time I whispered, "4." 

"See, much easier. Question 3, Are you two dating, if so, for how long?" 

"No! We're just friends mom." Shot and... miss! Dang it! 

"Erica, sweetie, you don't kiss your friends 4 times, and while I didn't see the other ones, this one was very passionate, and was very recent. Let's try again. Ben?" He sighed. 

" Yea." 

"How long?" 

"Ummm...since yesterday." 

"So the other two were yesterday. Before you ask me how I know that, I saw a security camera by the garage." We both blushed even more. 

"Yea..." 

"Anyways, question 4, have you gone on a date yet?" 

"Well, yea, yesterday we went to Walmart and got some snacks and came home and watched "The Princess Bride." 

"Okay, question 5, where did you sleep?" 

"Well, we fell asleep watching the movie, so in here. That's why there's a blanket out." he said. 

"Oh, together?" 

"Yea." 

"Okay, last question, for now. Why was Ben crying?" 

"I would really rather not to answer that." 

"Erica?" 

"He said he doesn't want that answered, so I'm leaving it up to him." 

Catherine got up and sat to his left, "Ben, you can tell me anything, you know that, right? What about that question is so embarrassing?" 

"I was crying because I thought Erica was gonna leave me because I'm not good enough for her, ok!?! He yelled. "Sorry, it's just a sore subject." I hugged him again and buried my head in his neck. I want to keep him from thinking about it again, if possible. 

"I told you to stop worrying about that! I love you and I'm not leaving you!" 

He just pulled me closer and said, "But I'm never going to be good enough!"

He got up and left; I didn't know where he went. 

I yelled at Catherine and said, "That's why I said not to push it! Now I don't know where he is and he's upset again! I had just calmed him down when you barged in and forced us to answer your questions! I was going to text you and tell you, but first, my boyfriend was really upset and was thinking about breaking up with me because he felt that he wasn't good enough for me!" 

"Oh, I'm sorry." She sounded hurt. 

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled, I'm just really worried about him." 

"He's in the guest bedroom; go talk to him." I walked in and sat next to him. 

"Ben, look at me. I love you. Please don't worry about it. Okay?" he looked up at me, and then right back down. "Ben, I really do love you. You know much I hate feelings, and I've been honest and said I love you numerous times, that's not easy, but I care about you so I am anyways." I wrapped my arms around him. He looked up and, before I knew what was happening, I kissed him. I grabbed his hand and pulled him up. 

"C'mon we're going to get something." He said confidently. "Can I drive?" 

"Sure." I said as I tossed him the keys. Going to get what? "We have to say goodbye to Catherine first though." We said goodbye and explained the situation. 

Then we left and went to a place that we had wanted to go to for a while. The pound. We went in and he told me to pick any dog. He knew I always wanted a dog. I chose a golden retriever without a name. I named him Maverick Bear Hale-Ripley. Maverick because I always thought it sounded cool, Bear as a shortened form of Berica, and Hale-Ripley because he was our dog and we weren't married, yet?  We got supplies for him and I drove him home. He asked me to drop him off at his childhood house so he could grab some of his stuff and his car. I asked him to stay with me for a while, and so he did. And then we got a message. We were being activated for a mission, again!

What do you think so far? Hope it's not too bad!