( 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗂𝗏𝖾 — 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗃𝗈𝖻 )

All throughout Ben Wheeler's childhood, he has been known as the immature one out of him and his brothers who loved to play pranks on his friends and family. But ever since Emma came in to his life, not once did he have to think about his future choices that would not only affect his life, but Emma's as well.

Until now, when a management opportunity then opened up at the bar and Ben offered to apply for the position straight away and in hope that he would be considered for it — only for his boss to turn him down as from what he had seen so far from his employee, he had all the qualities to fit as a bartender, however, he didn't think Ben was ready yet to take on that responsibility of being a manager.

Nonetheless, after taking advice from his mother, he decided to take another chance to talk to his boss in order to prove that he was ready to take up on the role as the manager, or even at least to be considered for it.

Ben returned to the bar, this time pushing Emma in her stroller as he searched for Mr. Henderson who was sat at the bar. And luckily for him, Ben had also spotted Charlotte from across the room, sat alone at a table.

"Charlie! Perfect." The Wheeler boy rushed over to the woman, looking hopeful as he asked. "Can you watch Emma for two seconds?"

"Yeah." Charlotte nodded and he quickly thanked her before leaving her alone with Emma so he could go to the bar and talk to his boss. "Oh hey, gorgeous." She cooed and started to untuck the baby from her straps.

Ben clapped his hands together. "H. Hey, what's happening?" He greeted awkwardly as his boss turned around to look at him. "It's me— Wheeler Walker W, your slightly flirtatious barkeep."

Mr. Henderson scoffed in annoyance. "Don't you ever go home, Walker?" He wondered, getting his name wrong once again. "I have wives I see less than you."

He went to turn around, when Ben began talking again, continuing with what he was saying. "I was just thinking about our conversation from earlier. And I think you're wrong and I'm right." He then widened his eyes in realisation. "I mean— I mean I'm right for the job, and you're wrong not to consider me." Ben corrected. "Wow. When I said this to myself in the bathroom mirror, it was really smooth."

"Look," Mr. Henderson started. "I appreciate the whole 'eager kid' thing, but I'm looking for someone a little more... responsible."

"And that's exactly what I'm trying to be. I've got a kid now and I—" Ben went to reason with him, before he was interrupted by his boss who looked at him in question. "You've got a kid?" He asked.

"Yeah..." Ben chuckled slightly and looked behind him to where Charlotte was sat with Emma. "Her name's Emma."

Mr. Henderson stood up from his seat, looking at Charlotte and assumed. "And a hot young wife."

"Yes." Ben agreed after a moment before looking back at Charlotte and Emma. "Yes, I do... Family man, and there's nothing more responsible than that."

"You obviously don't know a lot of family men."

"Hi, I am so sorry to interrupt." Charlotte walked up to them with Emma in her arms. "But I've got to hand her off. I have a shift in an hour and right now, she knows more about medicine than I do."

Ben turned to look at his boss. "Little lady works at the hospital and she's running late. Well, not running, but she should be. Go go go." He tried to send her off, afraid that Charlotte would say the wrong thing.

"A nurse, huh?" Mr. Henderson asked, stopping Charlotte from leaving. "Must be tough with the baby."

Ben turned to look at Charlotte. "I was just saying how great you are with Emma." He clarified for her before Mr. Henderson could continue. "Okay, give her a kiss. Wave, bye bye. See ya."

"Aw, that is so sweet." Charlotte smiled. "But Ben truly does all the heavy lifting. I mean, I'm barely even helping out since I've got my own to look after." She shrugged before leaving.

"She's got a kid herself?" His boss assumed which caused Ben to chuckle nervously. "No. She's been raising her little brother." He explained, without wanting to elaborate any further since he knows it's a sensitive subject for Charlotte.

"Wow." Mr. Henderson looked impressed. "That is one impressive wife you've got there."

The Wheeler boy chuckled. "Well, I don't call her my better half for nothing."

"Got a daughter about her age." His boss started off by mentioning. "Sadly, they have nothing in common." Mr. Henderson sighed. "I might have underestimated you, Wheeler."

Hearing his boss call him by the correct name for the first time, Ben gasped. "Oh my god. That's the first time you've said my name."

Mr. Henderson nodded slightly. "Let's have lunch tomorrow and discuss that job." He turned away from him to grab his tablet off the counter. "Oh, and bring your lovely little barrister with you. If you can get a woman like that, there really must be something about you I'm missing."

"Again, thank you?" Ben chuckled before walking back to Charlotte's table after his boss left.

"What was that about?" Charlotte questioned the Wheeler who grinned before responding. "Two questions for you: what are you doing tomorrow for lunch? And... will you marry me?"

"I'm sorry." Charlotte looked shocked. "I couldn't quite hear what you said. Did you just pop the question?!"

"Look," Ben sighed before explaining to Charlotte about the situation. "I'm trying to prove that I am responsible enough to become manager for this place, and he looked impressed when he thought you were my wife. So, I'm only asking if you can just pretend to be while he's around. Please."

"Ben," Charlotte scoffed. "I am not pretending to be your wife." She said as Ben put Emma back in her stroller.

"But, I need you!" The Wheeler argued. "You're the glue of my very flimsy lie."

"Well, I can't tomorrow." Charlotte sighed. "I'm having lunch with Riley and I absolutely can not take a rain check."

"Okay, how's this?" Ben started off as he tried to reason with his friend. "Once Henderson hires me, we'll get a quick-but-amicable divorce."

"If only you had anything I wanted half of."

The Wheeler sighed. "I just want Emma to have a father she can be proud of." Ben continued his point, making Charlotte sigh. "Please, you have to help me... Charlotte Wheeler." He added on, still trying to convince her to agree on his decision — and not that he would admit it, but Ben could've sworn he felt something in his stomach when he called her by his last name.

Seeing Charlotte still in thought, Ben sighed. "I'll get you double-stuffed oreos?" He offered to his friend who smiled at that. "I was already heading towards yes, but as you've offered, I can't say no now, can I?"

"Really? So you'll do it?" Ben repeated, but before Charlotte could confirm her answer, Bonnie, who stood in the doorway, called. "Oh, hell no." They turned to see Bonnie approaching, and gesturing to the stroller, she told her son. "This is going back." She turned it around and began to push it out of the bar. "Angry blonde with a baby coming through, people. Move it. Come on. Move it, move it, move it."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Charlotte sat with Ben on the couch as they went through their fake backstory. "Okay, so we met in high school, you had a crazy crush on me, but were too shy because of my popularity."

"Says the science nerd." Ben hummed, raising his brows at the Wright girl who pointed a finger at him, and with a snap, she countered. "Hey! If you must know, a cheerleader can be both smart and popular."

"We tied!" Tucker ran in, with Danny pushing the stroller behind him. "Well, I had to cry for two of the numbers, but we tied."

"Wait. You took out the stroller?" Ben asked with a chuckle before gesturing behind him with his thumb. "Mom just put Emma down ten minutes ago."

"Turns out the baby part is optional." Danny said, moving the covers to show that nothing was in there. "You just say she's asleep and nobody looks inside."

"Okay, but mom's still here. Now." Ben reminded the boys.

"Again?" Tucker panicked before looking back at Danny who patted him on the back. "Go." He told him, letting go of the stroller for Tucker to push out of the apartment and make his escape.

As soon as the door slammed shut, Bonnie came running out of the room. "Is that Tucker?"

"He went that way." Danny gestured out the door before Bonnie followed his directions and ran out of the apartment to chase after Tucker. "I don't know which is more fun, siccing mom on Tuck or cruising around with that stroller. Ben, you gotta get in on it."

"Can't." Ben declined and looked at Charlotte. "I have a wife now."

Confused by this, Danny then asked. "Wait. How long were we gone? And where's Brodie?"

"We are pretending to be married so that he can get a promotion." Charlotte explained. "And I'm guessing your brother is at work."

"Oh," Ben reached for his pocket. "which reminds me, I picked this up on my way home." He pulled out a ring and grabbed Charlotte's hand who looked at him surprised. "Charlie, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

"Yes. Of course." Charlotte replied in a monotone voice, making Ben give her a 'really?' look before telling her. "Can you at least try to be a bit more enthusiastic? Otherwise, those Oreos are off the table."

Charlotte sighed before smiling. "Oh my! Yes! A million times yes!" She corrected, speaking more enthusiastically like Ben had wished. "So, when did you first know you were in love with me?"

"Umm..." Ben thought about it before he nodded his head, smirking through his answer. "After we had sex."

Charlotte gave him a strange look. "Wow, Benny. How romantic." She responded sarcastically and nudged him on the arm. "Come on! You have to paint a picture."

"Fine." Ben chuckled lightly and stopped when he looked into her eyes. "Sophomore year. The first school dance. You wore a vibrant red dress when you pulled me to the floor to dance when nobody else would."

Charlotte grinned at him. "There we go. You see? Now, that's romantic." She said, thinking nothing of it, apart from Danny who looked at his brother curiously after listening to his confession, which seemed to be too real of a story to be made-up.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"And the sunsets were incredible." Charlotte and Ben were talking with Mr. Henderson on their lunch business meeting. "Not that we ever left the room." Ben chuckled along.

"Well," Mr. Henderson smiled politely. "Wheeler this has been an excellent meeting. I think I can safely say—"

"Hi there." A dark-haired woman approached the table before she looked over at Ben, almost as if she recognised him. "Hey, didn't you—"

"A-Absolutely not!" The Wheeler interrupted her in a panic. "Sorry, miss, but we're kind of in the middle of a business meeting."

"Take it down a notch, Wheeler." Mr. Henderson scolded his employee and gestured to the woman before introducing. "This is my daughter, Zoe."

"Your daughter?" Ben exhaled in shock and stood up from the table. "Well, uh, so nice to meet you for the first time ever."

"Nice to meet you, too." The woman played along with Ben before her father introduced. "Zoe, this is Ben and his lovely wife, Charlotte. You should really get to know each other." He referred to her and Charlotte meeting.

And not knowing who she was to Ben, the Wright woman smiled. "Oh, that would be—" She went to say, only for Ben to interject. "Impossible! 'Cause we're about to head out, right, babe?"

"Oh, don't leave now." Zoe stopped him. "There's nothing I'd like more than to chat with you and your wife. As soon as I freshen up."

Once Zoe left for the bathroom, Ben looked at his boss and Charlotte before making an excuse to leave and talk to Zoe. "Wow. Where'd all that iced tea go? Oops! There it is. I'll be right back."

Ben stood waiting outside the bathroom until Zoe finished, when she finally walked out. "I-I know this looks horrible," He stopped in front of her to explain the situation. "but I'm not a cheater. I'm just faking being married so your dad will consider me for a job."

Zoe nodded. "So you're a liar?"

"I'd probably go with creative go-getter."

"No worries." Zoe replied, shaking him off with a smile. "Scamming my dad is my favourite pastime."

"So you won't say anything?" Ben looked hopeful at Zoe who shook her head before reassuring the Wheeler. "Not a word. So how about you show me your resume?" She backed him up into the wall, making Ben chuckle nervously. "That's not where I keep it."

And before he could say another word, Zoe pulled him in for a kiss which surprised him — just as Charlotte walked up. "Seriously, Ben?"

"Charlie, it's not what it looks like." Ben instantly pulled away from Zoe, and looked at Charlotte who looked angry.

Charlotte scoffed at him. "Really? You begged me to help you with this, and then you abandon me so you can shove your tongue down another woman's throat."

"Wrong!" Ben dramatically pointed out. "She was shoving her tongue down my throat. I was trying to push it out."

"You know what? I'm done doing favours for you, Ben. You want a fake divorce?" Charlotte started off dramatically. "You've got one."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Charlotte had finished reading a story to Tommy when she looked down to see him fast off asleep while snuggled up to her chest. She kissed him on the head before placing the book on the bedside table for now.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, causing Tommy to shift slightly from the noise. Charlotte muttered something under her breath before she gently moved the four-year old off her chest to allow her to get out of the bed and make her way towards the door.

Once she opened the door, Charlotte immediately scowled seeing Ben before she tried to shut it in his face, though he managed to stop it. "Go away, Benjamin." She huffed, walking away from the door as Ben followed her inside.

"I'm so sorry, Charlie." Ben straight away started to apologise before explaining. "That girl— I hit on her a couple days ago with the stroller. Did not know she was my boss' daughter. When she came, and I went after her to be like, 'Hey, don't tell your dad'. Then she went all psycho and started kissing me. I would never do something like that."

"Look Ben, I know you're trying to apologise, but Tommy is napping and—" Charlotte went to ask if he could speak at a lower volume so her brother wouldn't wake up, and he immediately understood, again apologising. "I'm sorry. Look, I don't even care about the job anymore. All I care about is you."

"I'm listening."

"You were so sweet to help me."

"Keep going." Charlotte told him, allowing Ben to continue. "Well, I'm gonna tell Henderson that he was right about you and wrong about me."

Charlotte frowned. "But then you won't get that promotion." She reminded Ben, though he wasn't that bothered as he said. "No. But maybe I'll get you back. I'll take a real friend over fake wife any day."

"Or..." Charlotte paused for a moment before she sighed in defeat. "we could go back in there one more time. I mean, we've already made it this far, at least if you get this job, I won't feel like I totally wasted my time."

"Well, Henderson does want to have drinks tonight."

"Okay," Charlotte sighed before pointing a finger towards him. "but this is the last time I'm doing you a favour, Benny."

"Thank you, Charlie." Ben smiled. "I'll buy you a coffee and we can work on our story."

"Oh, the one where you're a dork but I marry you anyway?" Charlotte chuckled to herself while she went to get her jacket. "Is anybody at yours by the way? I'll need someone to look after Tommy while we're gone."

Ben nodded. "I know Danny's home. But, I'm not sure about anyone else." He informed Charlotte with a shrug. "He won't mind popping over here, I'm sure."

"I'm also wondering if you've gotten the double-stuffed Oreos." Charlotte hummed as she walked up to the door with Ben behind her. "Of course, you are." He laughed.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

megan speaks!

i'm sorry for the long wait but i hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! i've missed my babies ben and charlie <33

don't forget to comment if you like as i absolutely adore reading them! thanks for reading, i love you all!! <33