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

Chapter 68 *Ben's P.O.V

Ben's P.O.V

...

"Where's Rosie? Is she with Pascal? Is she alright? She left Merly, what's going on?" she questioned, her face etched with worry.

"Not here Bridge, come with me, please?" I quietly pleaded, her eyes widened before she cleared her throat.

"Sure. Marc you can take over from here, we won't be long." Bridget calmly said squeezing Marc's shoulder, slowly conversation returned to normal drowning out the curiosity of moments past, avoiding Tom's gaze I led Bridget away from the table, down towards the coast.

...

We walked in silence for some time, the words weren't coming out easily.

"She's with Pascal, he took her home. Merlin must have slipped her mind." I finally said knowing Bridget wouldn't believe it, Merlin simply isn't forgotten by anyone, least of all Rosie.

"Well, what is it you've dragged me away for then?" she asked, her annoyance palpable.

"Are you annoyed at me bridge?"

"You've both been so secretive, now Rosie's gone, Merlin's just been left which is beyond out of character for you both and I feel like I'm being lied to. What's going on?"

"Have I? it's not been intentional Bridge."

"Yes, you've both been hiding in plain sight, how stupid do you think I am? I joked earlier about you coming here so she could finally act like she wanted to be alive, I know when she's faking it even if it was for the sake of keeping face. You've done nothing but blow hot and cold with each other recently if our conversations are anything to go by and now this? Right before my wedding! If you're going to save face at least give it some gusto. I'm pissed off Ben, if I knew this was going to be the case I'd have rather you both stayed at home and thrashed it out. What's going to happen now? She cries her eyes out for the next 72 hours and you, well...I don't know." She sighed, hurt.

"Well that's why we're here now I guess." I shrugged, Bridge's cold demeanour thawing.

"What's happened?"

I sighed and began to explain, not for the first time today.

...

"Jesus Ben, I had no idea it was that bad." She uttered, her palm on my arm offered no comfort.

"I'm not sure what to say to that."

"Sorry. What are you going to do?" she asked, putting an arm around my shoulder.

"I don't know Bridge. I don't know what to say to her and I have no idea what she could possibly say to me."

"Do you want to be with her? Are you, you know- together?" she asked, my head sinking lower to my knees.

"Apparently, yes."

"Well then you're halfway to finding a way to be sure."

"Really?" I looked over at her, she gave my shoulder a squeeze.

"Yes sweetheart, don't let tonight or the last few months get to you, that'd be silly. I take it you spoke to your mum?" she asked and I breathed a light laugh.

"How could you tell?"

"You had the classic 'I called my mum in a blind panic and just wanted to hear her voice' flush to your cheeks is all. Mummy's boy." she winked, a faint warmth rising at the back of my neck.

"Cheers Bridge."

"However that's understandable, tell you what. I've got an idea."

"What's that?"