Officially Cumberbatched? A sequel to 'Well and truly Cumberbatched'

Chapter 67 *Ben's P.O.V

Ben's P.O.V

...

"Benedict, darling. How are you? I wasn't expecting to hear from you until the morning. Are you and Rosie having a good time?"

"Mum."

"What's wrong? Has something happened? Why do you sound upset? What could have possibly happened, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I, I can't say."

"You sound distraught, dear is everything alright? You're worrying me now. What's going on?"

"It's me and Rosie. I really don't know if we're..."

"Oh Ben, please don't say what I think you're going to say." she almost pleaded, my head throbbed from overthinking.

"I don't know what to do mum, and frankly I'm scared. I feel like such a child; I didn't know who else to turn to. I needed to hear your voice."

"Could you just point out what was said? What on Earth provoked such a downfall between the two of you?"

...

"Oh Benedict."

"Mum, I know. She got angry then I did, she snapped and I snapped back, and now I'm talking to you."

"You're as bad as each other then aren't you?" she asked, I reluctantly felt myself agreeing.

"Please don't mention this to dad, he adores her more than I probably ever thought he would. I know what he'd say and I don't need to hear it."

"I shan't utter a word. That's hardly a surprise, they have a special bond; it's sweet to see how well they've gotten on. They're thick as thieves aren't they?" she asked, I felt myself agreeing, despite everything.

"I know, thanks mum; I just want this sorted out. This is supposed to be about Bridget, not about us tearing each other apart."

"He's had a long day, driving back from Edinburgh. I'm sure this is the last thing he'd like to be awoken with."

"I'll ask him about it tomorrow then." I uttered, she mumbled something before clearing her throat.

"Ben."

"Mum?"

"Why give her a frankly ludicrous ultimatum if you want to be with her? You know better than that."

"I panicked, I was angry, spiteful, fed up and the words fell out; you don't have the full picture mum, only we do, no one else understands. Things had been great for us circumstances aside most of the time for the last couple of months because we're both here, in England for work and spend so much time together, being at home with Merlin, looking after Arty, and everything boiled over. I don't hate her, even if I wanted to I couldn't but we're clearly struggling to fully like each other." I sighed.

"Ben, words like that don't just fall out of your mouth. There's a reason you did, you need to admit to yourself let alone Rosie why you did; it's one thing saying you can't be friends with her and another thing entirely saying you're going to completely cut her out to the point where she, and what you had becomes a bleak memory you'd rather forget. Son, that's not you, what possessed you to say that?"

"I am, and I'm always going to be terrified of losing her. I can't explain it. I need her and I want her to need me. That's all I want. We're drifting apart, she just doesn't listen and I'm tired but trying and I'm frustrated now. I don't know what else to do. I said what I did because if I couldn't have her, I wouldn't be able to watch her be happy with someone else.

If we split and she was with someone else who got to be with her, Merlin and her family, making her laugh, waking up next to her, holding her, and just being with her in the ways that I'm with her makes me want to throttle this imaginary guy already.

I can't live with the idea of her being in my life if she's not with me, I literally can't, I don't want to. There's two options with someone. You eventually break up or you stay together. I want to be the one that stays, not some other guy. Despite everything she's one of the few people I can truly be myself with. And she's one of the few people who'll put me in my place if I'm being an absolute nightmare, I love that about her, and well us. I love that about us, I just, I just want that. I wish we could take it all back, now look at us."

"Ben, you have absolutely nothing to worry about."

"How are you so sure?"

"You're the only man she sees and cares for Ben, she'd rather be alone than not with you. Before you ask she has said that, we talk a lot when you're not around. You two didn't just bump into each other, you've known each other a long time. I know she's hard work and no angel but she cares about you more than you probably realise. The way she talks about you Ben, for hours and hours she'd talk about you over dinner when you were away working; it might be hard to believe right now but she couldn't be more besotted with, proud of, or supportive of you. Do you remember the day you brought her to meet us?"

"As if it was yesterday."

"I've never seen you so loved up until that point, we couldn't wait to meet her. Just remember that even though you've both said some disappointing things tonight if not in general that doesn't change the fundamental understanding that you two are perfectly imperfect. That's what makes you two work, you don't glaze over the negatives so you can be perfect. You've not changed each other, if you truly want to be with someone you accept them for who they are.

Darling, too much has happened to let this be the end of you. Watching you and Olivia go back and forth for years was painful enough at the best of times, you've got far too much to lose this time. Yourself and Rosie clearly stopped just dating a very long time ago, you're clearly building a life together. Don't throw that away."

"Mm."

"If I'm honest darling I could see this fallout you've had coming a mile off. Your mother is wiser than you might think." she uttered, the throbbing in my head becoming the centre of my attention.

"How?"

"As lovely as you both are you haven't fooled me. You're tired most of the time, worried. Rosie looks the same, I can tell when she's irritated with you even if she doesn't say. You've been faking it; I wasn't going to comment but clearly now I must. You don't have to keep face with family Ben, we've known you both long enough, your father is concerned. If you're having a hard time the last thing you need is to come home and fight. Be honest, you've taken on more than you can handle from each other recently seeing as you practically live together there's not an awful lot of breathing space.

Why you don't properly live together in your own place is still beyond me. Just understand this. She's not blaming you, and of course she has to understand that you're not trying to be controlling, you're concerned and I can see why.

It's not going to be easy but you'll eventually be alright."

"Sorry, for once I've not got much to say." I uttered, her laugh was oddly comforting.

"Then just listen, you don't always have to talk. Anyway darling you sound quite tired and probably ought to get some form of sleep. Just try to work something out; you'll both be fools to end it over this. I'm being blunt but I do care, this is simply something you must face alone. Go to sleep, wake up and say how you feel. You'll find out how much, even when angry beyond belief at the other person...you love each other."

"Who needs self-help books when I can come to you? Thanks mum."

"That's what I'm here for darling, I am your mother after all. Right, you both have a lot of apologising to do and a relationship to salvage in the morning. I love you Ben. Try to make it work, don't just give up on each other. If you can get through the last few months you can get through this."

"I'll try; I love you too. I'll see you and dad soon."

...

Heading back to the toilets I washed my face a few times, stuck in-between going back to the chalet or facing the rest of the evening.

Neither appealed.

...

Restaurant bound, I heard Bridget and Marc toasting to their impending nuptials, pushing thoughts of my own out of focus.

"Bridget, a word please." I quietly whispered over her shoulder, her smile fading the moment she turned to face me.