Little late because I've been with family in the ER and then the hospital for a few days, everyone is totally okay, but i accidentally finished next month's chapter around 11:55 and realized that i couldn't get this one done in time. figured it'd be better to end the 3 part story you've been reading that to throw in an entirely new story haha. going to try and stay on track this month, sorry about the past while lol been doing my best. I won't leave you in suspense any longer, enjoy!

Erica's POV:
"Walmart?" Trixie questioned.

"Large, non-government building, warehousey, easy to hide a sub-level under. And look at manager John Hill. It's him."

"It is. That's him." Mike agreed, voice low and steady, though I could tell that took a great deal of control. "Let's go get our boy."

Ben's POV:
I again woke to a dark room. My eyes slowly adjusted, and I realized it was the same room as before.

I heard a clanging clunk growing closer, until the door clicked and Joshua walked in.

"Rest time is over."

"Why didn't you kill me?" I asked.

"You know that I need the information you have."

"But not even after-" My voice fell silent. My escape attempt never happened. It was just a cruel trick of the mind. They all were.

The whole time I was there, I'd had hallucinations. Some mild like the uno game or conversations with my family. But then there were the others. The ones like that one, the hundreds of escape attempts I thought I'd tried, but had never left the room.

I had regained my knife not too long into my capture. Night after night, I sobbed or screamed in agony, facing the wall, to cover the sound as I scraped away enough at the mortar between the large, corroding bricks, to loosen one. I now had a large brick, but also a hiding place for my knife, when I didn't keep it in my pocket.

"Hey! I'm talking to you. Get up." He demanded, bringing me back to the present.

I tried to stand, but could barely push myself up.

"Now Ben."

I tried to speak but coughed, and blood spattered the ground, barely visible in the dim light.

"Get. Up."

"I'm trying, dickwad." I choked out.

He kicked at me and I looked up, glaring, blood all over my lips, running down my chin.

"Watch it."

I tried to muster enough strength to get up but failed. I was on my stomach, trying to push up against the thin mat and bring my knees forward, but to no avail.

"You're weak." He spat. "Pathetic." He shamed. "You always have been. Now get up."

"I'm trying, okay?" I croaked out. "I can barely move jackass, give me a second."

I could tell he was growing annoyed, but there was nothing I could do.

I continued struggling, my limbs tingly and weak, no stronger than noodles.

I hung my head down, and I sighed frustratedly, when I felt cold metal against the back of my head.

A click.

My heart sank. I knew that feel, I knew that click.

"You either get up now Ben, or I kill you right now."

"I'm trying!" I exclaimed.

"Try harder." He steeled. "I grow impatient. Get up, or die."

I pushed myself up with every last ounce of strength I had and made it most of the way up, when I saw the ground coming closer again, and everything went dark.

I awoke finally to the blast of a large explosion. I couldn't move but I recognized the feel of someone running into the room from the vibrations on the floor. I felt someone pick up my torso and hold me against them, propped on their lap. I couldn't open my eyes, but I knew all too well who it was. I had the second I felt her footsteps against the floor.

Erica.

"Ben!" She screamed. "Wake up! Get up! I need you to! Please! Your family, your friends, Mike, they need you. I need you!"

But no matter how she sobbed, I couldn't move, I couldn't talk, I couldn't open my eyes.

"Ben, you have to keep fighting, we're trying to find you. Stay alive! Try to escape, anything! You can't die! Please!" She screamed still.

Again I tried to speak, again I could only be silent.

I saw a glitch in my vision. I felt light against my eyes, bright, sharp, piercing fluorescents. But I knew there were none in the room they held me in.

I tried to pry my eyes open, just enough to see, and realized I was in a hallway. I carefully attempted to move my limbs, and felt a leather cuff around each. I realized that Erica was not, in fact here, and that I was being moved on a gurney through a dimly lit hallway.

I let my eyes fall shut as I thought. I knew I needed to get out of there, and that this may be my best chance.

An alarm began blaring, the fluorescents now off, and replaced with blaring red siren lights that I hadn't even seen on the wall before. I felt two people run away from my side, and knew that I was left with at least one as I was still being moved. With a couple of tiny peeks, I saw that there was only one person in a lab-coat and a gas mask pushing me, and no one else in the hallway.

"Listen to me." They said, directed at me, voice muffled. "The alarm won't hold them long."

"Aren't... you... a little... short... to be a... scientist?" I groaned, ever the smart-ass.

I cou

I tried to slowly squirm my hand into my pocket to get my knife, when I was surprised by the lab coat cloaked person. They pushed me into an even more secluded hallway, and began to undo the leather cuffs.

"Go see your family Ben." The person said as they took their mask off.

Immediately, I recognised them.

"Wha- why?" I croaked groggily.

"Just go." He said definitively. "And what can I say, I'd almost miss your stupid, self-righteous, 'hero' attempts at stopping me. It's our thing." He added with his signature grin, pulling the mask back down as he backed up a little with a shrug, before turning and running away.

I wasted no time finding all of my strength to get up and begin finding my way out of there. I knew I was underground, and on a seemingly large compound. But I didn't know where.

I continued thinking when there was suddenly a large explosion, that I was able to pinpoint to the hallway I'd been in before Murray turned one last time. However, this revelation didn't last long ad I was flung back into the wall from the blast.

All I could hear was ringing as my head seemed to spin. My vision was blurred, and I tried to blink it away. I couldn't. A small pile of rubble had fallen on me but I clawed it off. I grabbed my knife and got myself unchained to the floor at least. I still had shackles on but at least I was able to escape if only I could just get upstairs. Then I might be able to figure out where I am, and how to get out of here. Or even get a signal to my team, to Erica, so they could get me out.

"Ben!" I heard faintly, in the voice of my best friend. But I wasn't sure if I believed it. Wasn't sure if I could.

"Mike." I groaned.

"Ben! Please Ben!" I heard again, now in a new voice. Erica's.

"Erica?"

I didn't think it could really be her until I saw a faint outline of a person freeze for a split second before it was running towards me. It looked like her, but I was scared it wasn't.

My eyes shut tightly as they watered, fearing this was another trick of my mind.

"Ben! Thank god!"

I felt something hit the ground and then her soft, strong hands, feeling her holding onto me, and my eyes snapped open. She propped me up onto her lap. For the first time in months, I felt full of life. I threw my arms around her and held on tight, scared she'd disappear.

"Erica!" I held back a sob, but to no avail.

"Ben!" Tears were streaming down her face. "Thank god you're okay!"

"I am now. Thank you." 

She suddenly grabbed mine and pulled me in for a quick kiss, as if it was urgent. My eyes fluttered shut and I clung to her as she was to me.

"I was so worried." She croaked after she'd pulled away. Her voice was hoarse. I had a feeling she hadn't been eating or sleeping much while I was gone.

"I missed you so much." I cried. "Can you-"

"Yeah, yeah, I can." She knew what I meant and began helping me move the rubble.

I slid out from the heap of brick and stone with her help I stood up. I flung my arms around her and we stood there for a second before my knees started to buckle because of how weak I'd become over the time I'd been captured. She held me up to keep me from falling, and when I looked in her eyes, I saw how worried she was.

"Woah-"

"I-I'm fine."

"Ben- I don't think you are." She said slowly.

We heard a loud boom we felt the ground shake. Dust fell from the ceiling and cracks began forming.

"We can talk about it later, we have to leave, now." I said urgently.

"Can you walk?"

"Not on my own."I sighed.

"Here." She put an arm around me and I did the same.

We began walking, and I couldn't help but grunt in pain as I moved. It was taking too long because I was too weak. I was practically dead weight to her, and she was going slow to minimize my pain. It was as fast as I could go, but we desperately needed to go faster because if we got caught, she'd have to fight them off while holding onto me, or worse with me crumpled out of the way. After nearly half an hour of navigating tunnels as quietly as we could, we came to a perpendicular hallway. 

"Which way do we go?" I winced, noticing Erica's hesitation.

"I'm thinking- sorry, I memorized it on the way here but it's a big place."

"It's fine, take your-"

I was suddenly interrupted by the sound of men yelling out rom not nearly as far away as I would have liked.

"Less time to take now." She said, almost panicked. "Do you remember being brought in?"

I tried to visualize what I'd felt when I was captured in reverse.

"Ben I can't remember, and they're getting closer."

"I'm trying." 

"I know. I'm worried I won't be able to fight them all off and protect you."

"I know, I'm sorry, I'm trying."

"It's okay." She encouraged. "They're just around the corner-"

"Right!"

"Sorry, I-"

"No, right, turn right, let's go!" I explained quickly and we continued on. 

Not too far down that hallway I saw a door on the side wall, and we hurried towards it. Suddenly, the door was thrown open and we both started to panic, when I saw Mike on a staircase.

"Ben! Buddy!"

"Mike! My main man!"

"Alright lovebirds, later." Erica laughed. "Mike help me get him up the stairs." 

Mike nodded and moved to put his arm around my other side and the two of them helped me to the top. We reached another door which Mike quickly opened. I was surprised to see the toys section of a Walmart.

"A-"

"Yes, a Walmart." Mike said. "Trix, meet us out front." I could tell he was talking into comms.

We tried to quickly, and without drawing too much attention, get out. We made it to the doors, when some cashiers and the greeter looked concerned at me but we kept going.

"Almost there buddy, come on." Mike encouraged.

I saw a black sports car with tinted windows speeding around the parking lot, and I instantly knew it was Trixie. She stopped abruptly out front and we rushed to the car more quickly now. Mike turned and quickly got into the passengers side, while Erica helped me get in the back. 

"No!" We heard a frustrated scream as I was scooting to the other side of the car, and my anxiety spiked. She was almost in the car, the door open, but at the noise Erica and my heads whipped around to see Joshua running out. 

I heard the all too familiar whirring and she slammed the door shut. "Drive!" She shouted, and thankfully Trixie had the same thought, because we sped away, her driving as skillful and precise as always. I looked back and saw the blast hit the ground where the car had just been.

"Good save Trix." I groaned.

"It's what I do." She smiled. "Good to have you back Ben."

"Good to be back. Trust me, you have no idea."

We were a ways away from Walmart, speeding onto the mostly empty highway.

Unfortunately, it was then that we noticed 3 black SUVs chasing after us. Each had 3 people sticking out the side and back windows with guns, and to be totally overkill, one from the sunroof. Mike quickly picked up a large semi-automatic as Trixie rolled down his window. Trixie began swerving around to avoid the spread of gunfire being shot at us. Mike turned started firing at the tires of the front one, and on the second and third shots, took out both front tires. The car halted to a stop, airbags flying out and knocking out the people in the front seats. The second car slammed into the back of it, tires screeching as the driver tried to slow and go around to no avail. 

"Nice shot!" I shouted weakly.

"Ben, rest." Erica demanded. "But it was good shooting Mike, I'm impressed."

Trixie looked in the rearview mirror and interrupted. "Real sweet guys, but we still have car three and now four to deal with."

"On it." Mike said, turning towards them again.

Erica also pulled out her gun and when Mike ran out of ammo, he popped his head back in, and she popped hers out the back window. We were on the highway now, going 95 over a bridge. Even with the wind, she fired one shot, and it found its' mark perfectly. The driver slumped over and the car began to spin out as the passenger tried to take control of the wheel. He failed. The third car spun into the bridge rails and stopped. A fifth car could be seen now, not far behind the fourth, but both quite far behind us.

"Alright, I'm over this." Erica said annoyed, as if it was some minor inconvenience and not several serious threats to our lives. That always confounded me, even then.

She opened the sun-roof and stood up fully, facing backwards, with a similar gun to Mike's, and a pretty large hand-grenade. Erica threw the grenade, but she hadn't pulled the pin. The grenade kept flying towards the two cars as she lined her eye up with the gun, aimed, and shot one bullet. She dropped back into the car casually and crossed her legs. 

"Well now that that's taken care of-"

"But-" Mike started.

He said this as we watched in pure amazement as the bullet hit the outside of the pin's loop at the perfect angle, pulling it out midair. My jaw dropped further when the bomb continued to fly as the cars continued driving after us. I saw the grenade start to explode right between them, still midair. The shockwave blew both of the cars sideways into the railings on either side and fully blocking the last SUV that had just come into view.

"Holy shit." Mike said, stunned, his jaw on the floor.

She just shrugged as if it was no big thing.

"You're amazing." I said, dazed. "How did you-"

She shrugged again. Erica seemed to remember my medical state then, and began tending to my wounds as best she could.

"One wrong turn." I mumbled. "If I hadn't made that wrong turn, none of this would have happened."

"You did the best you could." Mike said. "We were so close but you were gone before we got there. We searched tirelessly for you."

"Thanks." I smiled weakly.

"You also made one right turn, however. One that got us out of there." Erica added.

"Huh?" I asked.

"I couldn't remember how to get out of there. But somehow, you were able to remember what you felt when they brought you in. We took that one right turn because of you, and you got us out of there."

"Hardly-"

"Ben. You did. You did great fighting them off initially, and you remembered that turn, the right turn to get us to the stairs where we met Mike."

"You guys were the ones who-"

"Benjamin Ripley. You did it. You fought them, and endured what I'm sure was hell, and you remembered where we needed to go. You did good, okay, now get some rest."

"But-"

"Shh." She cut me off. "You've saved us and the world more times than even you can count-"

"743." I said without thinking.

"Uh-" Erica seemed surprisingly taken aback by this. "Or- that only you can count, but the point is that we're your team, okay? We save each other, it's what we do. Even when we take wrong turns, the rest of the team is there to turn it into a right turn."

"We're family Ben." Trixie added. "You save us, we save you. It's no big thing."

"Come on brother, give yourself a break." Mike added. "We love you, and we'll always have each other's backs, okay?"

"You were all in danger because of me, family shouldn't put family in danger."

"Ben, we're spies. The top spies. We're always in danger, Brainiac." Trixie teased.

"More danger then."

"Hey!" Erica stopped me. "Ben, you need to not be so hard on yourself, okay. We all mess up. Even- me." She smiled. "That's why we're a team, remember? We're a team because we make each other better. We have more room for messing up when we work together. There's no way to avoid messing up, so when you do, relying on us is okay. That's what we do. We're here for each other. We have each other's backs, and I'm not going to let you get into some self-pitying spiral. You did the best you could, and that's all anyone can ask of any of us."

She let the words sink in, and a small smile returned to my face.

"Now, stop arguing and apologizing."

"Yes ma'am." I laughed quietly.

She rolled her eyes to hide her smirk.

"And get some rest, yeah? You look like hell." Erica smiled, showing she was just joking.

"You get some rest too, huh? I'm sure you didn't get much while I was gone."

"I needed to get you back first."

"Here I am. Now get some rest, looks like it's gonna be a bit of a drive back to anywhere really."

"I'm not sure the extent of your injuries, so I want to get you to the supplies at mine so I can patch you up while we wait for the CIA docs to get there and take over."

"Forty-five at top-speed." Trix offered from the front.

"Top speed." Erica said to answer the unasked question. 

"You got it." Trixie said, increasing the speed of the car.

"We're taking him to yours, not a hospital?" Mike asked.

"We already caused quite the scene for the Agency to explain and cover-up, I don't want to add to the chaos, and also people saw us and Ben leaving Walmart. That's probably already on the news, and the doctors might recognize him and ask questions we're not allowed to answer, drawing away from his care. More importantly, word of Ben being brought in to the hospital could get around to any of those guys back there, or worse, Joshua, putting dozens more civilians and also Ben in more danger. And that's if they aren't already searching every hospital remotely nearby already."

"Wouldn't ER be faster?" He asked further. "I'm not trying to question your judgement TL" Mike added with his hands up, showing he meant no disrespect. TL meant team leader, and it was one of his nicknames for her. "I'm just trying to make sure we do what's best for Ben."

"It's okay Mike I know, me too. It'd probably be faster getting there and in, but it'd be a lot more waiting and a lot bigger of a safety risk. I'd rather break a few speed laws now and wait a little longer to get him to a safe, non-medically-associated location with supplies and professionals."

"Do you want me to sort out getting the docs sent over?" He asked.

"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks Mike."

"You got it boss." He smiled at her in the mirror.

I found the whole exchange amusing.

"What are you smiling at Nerd-Boy?" She asked with a crooked grin.

"I just find your dynamic amusing." I laughed. "If you asked me when Mike first got to Spy School if you and he would become best friends, I would have laughed out loud."

"We both know what it's like to constantly be worrying about your dumb-ass." She joked back.

"We all do." Trixie added. "Since you have a knack for getting yourself into trouble, you selfless idiot."

I shrugged with a smile.

"What can I say? I try to protect my people."

"You definitely try." Mike laughed.

"Oh come on now, 743!"

"How many times has Erica alone saved you and the world?" Trixie asked with a smirk.

"873." I mumbled with a smile.

"And the rest of us?"

"Fine." I laughed. "1,702."

"Whoo! I am on fire!" Erica laughed.

"Mike?" Trixie asked.

"623."

"And I wasn't there for your first year or two, right?" He grinned.

"Oh whatever." I laughed.

"Me?"

"537."

"See, Ben, we protect each other. This? Not a problem. We were certainly severely worried, that's for sure, but we figure it out. So you're not going to blame yourself, because this is a part of what it's like growing up as and becoming the world's top spies."

 The adrenaline had fully worn off now that everything was calming down and my eyes started to droop closed. 

"Here, Ben, lay down." Erica said, noticing my growing tiredness, and probably my pained discomfort from sitting how I was.

I looked at her with a questioning face, and she shook her head with a little smile.

"You've been sitting like that for a while, and I know it can't be comfortable in your current state. We didn't have time earlier for you to get comfortable, but it's going to be a while still, I think it's a good idea for you to do that now."

"Oh, I'm f-"

She shot me an unamused look and I didn't finish my sentence.

"It's not particularly ideal, but lay across the car at least. We needed speed on our side." 

I laughed a little and slowly started to shift so I was laying across the whole back seat on my right, and thankfully less painful side. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable however, so I kept myself on a slight angle so I wasn't any more in her space than I already was.

Erica shot me a confused and slightly amused glance that said, 'What are you doing, doofus?'

"You can lay your head down Ben." She laughed softly. "I'm sure you're in a lot of pain, especially holding that position, I didn't mean for you to be more uncomfortable."

"Oh, well I was trying to not make you-"

"Ben." She whispered gently. "It's fine. You need the rest."

"So do you." I said with a small smile.

"And I will, once you relax a little. Don't be ridiculous."

"But it's his specialty." Mike teased from the front seat.

"Oh don't even, Michael." I said with a chuckle.

"All of you, rest." Trixie laughed. "Ben, you definitely need to sleep, stop being an idiot, she offered, you're fine."

I laughed and gently laid down with my shoulder against the side of her left leg and my head resting on her lap. I was not about to mess with Trixie. She's the resident sweetheart, but also the one who makes sure we are all taking care of ourselves during all these high pressure situations. So, when she meant business, it was smart to follow "orders," so to speak. 

"Erica, get the boy to take a nap so you will, you've not been sleeping anywhere near enough, and I've been trying to let you plan so that you were less stressed, but things are fine now, sleep." 

Erica rolled her eyes with a smile and nodded. I felt her gently playing with my hair which made me smile up at her. She gently kissed my forehead and I knew my face was pink.

"And Mike, honey?"

"Yes dear?" He said with a smile, knowing what was coming.

"Shut up and let them sleep, and while you're at it, you sleep too. You haven't slept enough either."

"Yes dear." He smiled more, laying his head against the car window.

"Honestly, Ben, we were wrecks without you. And you know these two barely sleep enough when we're both telling them to. Trying to convince them on my own, while we were all worried because you were captured? No picnic."

"I bet not." I smiled.

"We all missed you so much. It is really good to have you back."

"Believe me, I missed you all so much too. And I appreciate the rescue."

"Anytime." She smiled at me from the rearview mirror.

My eyes kept falling closed, and for the first time in a while, I was okay with that. Because for the first time in awhile, I wasn't worried it'd be the last time they'd be open.

Man, it is good to be back.

I woke to the car turning and slowing, as if into a driveway.

They all helped me inside, because I was mostly dead weight. Trixie went in ahead and put a bunch of pillows at the head to prop me up, and then Mike and Erica helped me lay down on what I was sure was Erica's bed.

Mike put his hand on my shoulder. 

"I'm really fucking glad you're okay man."

"Me too Mike. Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I'm gonna give you some space, me and Trixie; I'm sure tending to your wounds is going to hurt."

I nodded and smiled at Trixie before they both left the room. I saw Mike had left a pair of gym shorts next to me for me to change into instead of the jeans I'd been wearing for far too long now. I greatly appreciated this. 

A little while later, Erica came into the room with a very impressive first-aid kit.

"Good, Mike left you shorts like I asked."

"Thanks."

She nodded and began cleaning the small cuts on my legs and putting band-aids on them to keep them sanitary. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad, and she was done quickly.

"Alright, that's done."

"Okay." I sighed in slight relief.

"Can you take your shirt off?"

I nodded and slowly tried, but it hurt so bad I stopped almost immediately.

"Agh!"

"Hey, hey hey hey, it's okay. Would you like me to just cut it off?"

With a sigh, I nodded. "Damn, I really liked this shirt."

"Ben, I'll get you a new one." She said sternly, her voice raw.

She gently cut the shirt up the middle, and cut down the middle of both sleeves so it would practically fall away. As it did, she gasped in horror.

"Ben- they- you-"

"Hey," I put my hand on hers. "It's okay. I'll be okay."

"Ben, it's bad, there's a lot of wounds-"

"I know." I nodded softly. "I know, E."

She took a deep breath.

"Give me your hand, Ben, this is really going to-"

"I know." I nodded, grasping her hand tightly as she began cleaning each and every wound that littered my chest and arms. 

Each one stung like hell, and my whole body tensed as I tried not to scream or cry. 

Erica looked miserable as she cleaned and bandaged the cuts, being forced to watch the pain overtake me.

"Ben-"

"It's okay- it's okay, this is the easy part, right?"

She nodded and took a shaky breath.

Erica helped me roll over and gasped again, cleaning and bandaging the cuts on my back and the back of my neck, these ones generally much bigger judging by the pain I felt. When she was done, she gently helped me roll over again.

Her eyes were watering and I carefully wiped the tears from her eyes. 

"We're okay." I reassured.

She tentatively put her hands on the sides of my neck and rested her head on my collarbone. I set my right hand on her back and let her take a breath.

"I'm so sorry we didn't get to you sooner- it- it's bad, Ben, there are so many. And I can tell it's agonizing you, I- it's hard to watch."

"I know E, we're almost done."

"God, I should be reassuring you- what's wro-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." I said softly. "We're a team."

"Yeah, yeah okay." She nodded, wiping her eyes again.

Erica sat gently beside me, and lightly took the alcohol wipe to my face, removing the dried blood and sanitizing the wounds.

I couldn't help but wince and hiss as she did, but she worked quickly and quietly, and soon I could simply rest.

"Alright, I'm done. They'll have to see about the bruises and bone type injuries later but all the open wounds are sanitized and covered."

I nodded, panting and out of breath, my muscles finally releasing.

Erica gently wiped the sweat off my shoulders and neck, and even more carefully, the beads of sweat on my forehead.

I closed my eyes and felt her lean towards my face, gently kissing my forehead. 

"Get some rest Ben. We can talk later." I nodded and she moved to leave, but I grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Wait- please stay, in the room- I... I don't want to be alone."

"Of course." She nodded and I faded in and out of consciousness. "You're safe now. We've got you Ben."

I finally let my eyes shut fully, giving in to exhaustion. My earlier nap was not enough.

I awoke what must have been hours later, feeling semi-rested for the first time in quite a long while. I noticed a figure sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.

"Erica?" I groaned out.

"How are you feeling?" She asked gently as she got up and walked over.

"Like hell."

"I bet."

"How are you?"

"I'm alright, better now that you're okay."

I smiled.

"You going soft on me?"

"I think I am, unfortunately. I never would have had so much trouble giving first aid- I don't- to anyone else. But- it was so painful this time."

"That's just because you care about me, it's okay."

"No, it's not, I- I don't want to care about you- er- not so much it messes with my head."

"Repressing your emotions just makes them stronger." I offered softly.

"Well I hate it." She grumbled.

"I know."

Erica fell silent, knowing we were once again at the conversation she so didn't want to have.

"What'd they say?" I asked.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Docs said you're gonna be fine, couple broken bones that they've got to take care of later, said to ice the bruises and that they're thankfully not too bad. There's some very light internal bleeding but their scans say it'll heal on its own and that you got very lucky."

"Well when there had been bad internal bleeding before, they operated immediately to keep me alive long enough to keep pushing me for information."

She nodded. 

"They thought that was the case."

We fell back into a silence.

"Do you still like me?" She asked, very uncharacteristically.

I scoffed. "I will always love you Erica."

"No, like-"

"No, I will always love you Erica."

She nodded in understanding.

"I don't want to, but I do too. I like you Ben, and I was so worried I'd never see you again."

"I know. Me too."

"I was so worried that I would never get to love you. To tell you I did."

I didn't say anything, hoping she would continue. 

"I- I love you Ben. And it's hard, and it hurts, but I do. It distracts me and haunts me and twists my brain into knots of conflicting emotions and- I want to love you. I want to just love you and have it be okay."

"It will always be okay."

"I wasn't sure if- you don't really say it much."

"Erica, I love you and it's because I love you that I don't profess my love to you every time I talk to you, even though I want to more than anything. Even though the words threaten to tumble out every time I see you. I don't because I know it goes against what you said you wanted before. I won't go against what you said before, unless you tell me to."

"I- what do you want? Please?"

"I- want you to tell me to love you. To tell me it's okay and that we can be happy and together. But I understand that that wasn't something you could handle then. So when- no- no, if, if, that changes, you let me know, okay?"

She gave me a soft smile and we settled into silence for a while.

I didn't expect her to say anything, especially so soon, but then she looked up at my face with watery eyes and a small smile.

"It's- it's changed." Erica said softly, but assuredly, taking my hands in hers. "It's changed Ben."

It was just a few words, and yet I couldn't stop smiling like she'd said every loving word in the world to me, because those two words meant the world to me. 

I couldn't stop smiling, and I didn't know if I ever would.

Whew, there we go! Happy ending for those poor idiots, I think poor Ben deserved that after everything, and hey... hi... how y'all doinnn? See you next time for one final update! I will say, the next one will be the last oneshot update for, at the very least, quite some time. I will be marking this story as complete after the next one and I'll be shifting my focus to other things for now. I'm just not really having any more ideas and haven't been for a while, but I've been trying to continue for as long as I could for you guys. Unfortunately, I think I've hit the end. Same thing goes for the Fun and Games book. Hope you understand.