Two days later.

Gail, as usual, prepared lunch for her children on Sunday.

Marni and Charlie are still on their honeymoon.

Ben arrives at his mother's house and parks the car in front of the garage behind Will's car.

Ben gets out of the car and notices a motorcycle parked in front of the house, Ben frowns trying to recognize that motorcycle, but he can't.

He shrugs and enters the house.

Gail walks past him with plates in her hands "Hi mom" Ben says "hi, take off your cap!" Gail says, Ben rolls his eyes "you know the rules son" Gail says.

She takes the dishes to the table, Ben takes off his cap and puts it on the table at the entrance.

Will and Joanna are in the living room "Hey bro" Will says "Hey, hi Joanna" Ben says "hi Ben" Joanna smirks and Will smiles at her.

Mark helps Gail in the kitchen "Hi son" Mark says, Ben smiles entering the kitchen.

Katy comes running up to Ben "Uncle Ben!!" Katy hugs him "Hey princess!" Ben says.

"Come play with me in the tree house!" Katy pulls his hand "Actually I was already leaving, I have a lot of work, maybe another time" Ben says.

"Aren't you staying for lunch?" Gail asks "No, I have some drafts to work on for tomorrow" Ben says, Gail tilts her head.

"No! You have to go up there now!" Katy says, Ben smirk "Ben, come on just a little" Gail says "Okay" Ben chuckles at Katy.

Ben goes to the treehouse with Katy before climbing the stairs Katy returns towards the house "Wait, I forgot my tiara!" Katy says, Ben chuckles and looks up at the treehouse stairs.

He sighs and goes upstairs, when he enters the house he comes across Stella sitting on a cushion playing a portable video game.

Ben's heart races and he feels butterflies in his stomach.

Ben frowns "What are you doing here?" Ben says, Stella pauses the game.

"Well, I moved here recently, and I didn't have anywhere to have lunch so...I thought I'd pay your mom a visit" Stella smiles "Oh...did you move to California?" Ben ask

"Well...I kind of...got a job here, so..." Stella shrugs "In the treehouse?" Ben smirks, Stella rolls her eyes.

"They hired me, I'm not going bankrupt" Stella smirk "Uh...well that's great!" Ben says.

"So...you got the email then" Ben says he closes the door "Yeah...I saw the video" Stella says, Ben takes a deep breath.

Ben sits next to her and sighs "why didn't you ever get straight to the point, why didn't you ever tell me what happened?" Stella asks, Ben shakes his head.

"You never gave me the chance, and it made me angry and act like an idiot" Ben says, Stella tucks her hair behind her ear and puts her hand on his shoulder.

"Look...I'm sorry, for all the times I called you an idiot, all the insults and for not... trusting you" Stella says running her hand from his shoulder to his hand.

"I have never tried to understand your side of the story, the fear of disappointing me took over and I ended up making everything worse, I was the one who ruined everything because I always ran away" Stella says.

"you? ran away? No, I'm the one who was always a coward in admitting my own feelings of not understanding what I wanted, of letting others get in my way with opinions and what others say doesn't matter...The only thing that matters is you, it's always been you" Ben says caressing her hand with his thumb.

Stella looks into his bright, hazel eyes "I'm sorry for making you suffer all these years, I should have done what I wanted, I should have invited you to that dance, I should have kissed you more, I should have told you that I love you much sooner...But I wasted time" Ben says upset.

"Ben! I drew you as something you're not, and that was terrible, but now I want to be able to finally talk to the real you, the one I always saw inside you but was afraid to get attached to" Stella puts her hand on his chest, feeling his heart racing.

"we can still make up for lost time...I'm willing to do that, but for that I also need to learn to love you the right way" Stella says calmly.

"I love you" Stella says, Ben can't hold back the smile "I've always loved you, even when I hated you, I'm just completely in love with that funny little boy who is still part of you...And for the incredible man he became" Stella smiles.

Stella slowly moves her hand from his chest to close to his neck as she looks intently at him "You were the first and only love of my life, my first and only kiss I need, the only and best friend I ever had, and I hate how influential you are in my life" Stella says, Ben chuckles.

"You drive me crazy and I love it" Stella laughs, Ben agrees "You mess everything up, you mess up my life and I want to live this mess with you, because...sometimes things fall apart, to make way for better things" Stella sighs.

"And i want to know what it is like?" Stella smirk "Me too" Ben says.

Stella bites her lip to avoid smiling too much.

Ben looks around "Remember the last time we were here?" Ben says he discreetly puts his hand on her leg.

Stella sighs "Yeah, how can I forget?" Stella says sarcastically, Ben starts moving his hand to her thigh.

Ben, with his other hand, puts her hair back, while she has one hand stroking the back of his neck.

"Can I kiss you?" Ben says gently, Stella smirks "Can I?" Ben smiles "You always could" Stella smiles.

Ben wets his lips as Stela approaches, slowly hugging his neck as he leans in.

Ben slowly touches his lips to hers, Stella places her lips on his, hugging his neck more to firm the kiss.

His hand on her thigh quickly moves up to her hip and under her shirt on her back, which he uses as leverage to pull her onto his lap.

They smile in the middle of the kiss, Stella breaks the kiss and looks at him happily, Ben smiles and sighs in relief.

Ben gently cups her face and pulls her into a firmer but softer kiss.

After three passionate and soft kisses, Stella hugs him tightly and sighs in his arms, finally being able to love and surrender herself in the arms of the man she has always loved without fear of disappointment.

Ben caresses the back of her head, burying his face in her hair, feeling that she trusts and loves him completely, feeling that he has won back more than just the girl he loved but a part of himself that had been lost over time.