Anthology - A Collection of Fanfic One-Shots

I hate you, I love you (part two)

"Lilah," Ben's voice was muffled through the locked door. "Please."

"Why are you doing this to me?" she whimpered.

"Because I still love you and I'm sorry...please let me in."

She grabbed a tissue to absorb the tears that would certainly ruin her makeup, then dabbed at the drops of her martini that still clung to her cheeks. She was thankful she hadn't chosen red wine that evening or the situation would have been a much larger mess for both of them.

That moment was inevitable, necessary for moving forward...in any sense. She needed to have a conversation with him, it just wasn't the best time. In true form, he wanted to get emotional at the least opportune time. She took a deep breath and unlocked the door, not entirely sure what she planned to say to him.

Cautiously he crept into the restroom and couldn't help but choke up at the sight of her. Her beauty was breathtaking...not that he'd expect anything different. She'd been out in the sun, by the appearance of the freckles on her cheeks and the brighter blonde flecks in her hair. Her crystal-blue eyes were vibrant and electric, likely because he'd just emotionally ambushed her.

"Lilah, I'm so sorry. I'd like to explain--"

"Shh. I'm going to talk right now, Benedict."

He clamped his mouth shut and waited for the expected and deserved verbal lashing.

"I do not appreciate you just turning up like this."

"I know and I'm sorry--"

"Shh," she hissed. "You hurt me...I never expected you to hurt me like that." Her voice cracked under the weight of her emotions. She swallowed the lump in her throat and bolstered her confidence.

"We had it all, Ben. I thought we did, anyway. I know things got busy with both of us working all the time but I don't understand why you couldn't just be honest if you were that unhappy. You could have told me how you felt..." She subconsciously placed a hand over her heart as if it would soothe the deep ache she felt there, "I would have worked less...you didn't have to...with her...I just can't believe you'd do that."

All of the times she'd rehearsed her speech to him, she'd been so much angrier. Not having him there made it easier to be angry but now that he was inches away from her her resolve broke. She told him to get out of her life because she thought she should...because that's what you do with a cheater. As soon as he was actually completely absent she missed him. The thought of him being with anyone else also made her incredibly jealous which was very unexpected. Despite every effort to edge him out, she couldn't.

"I won't give you any excuses about being drunk or not of right mind, okay? I fucked up and I'm owning that. All I can do now is beg your forgiveness."

"What makes you think I'm going to forgive you?"

"I was hoping that the absence of the divorce papers you promised was a good sign," his smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and that was it. She couldn't resist him any more.

"What about...her?"

"If it's any consolation, I didn't sleep with her...contrary to what you think."

"But she said you did in that interview...she said you were in love."

He shook his head and a low-simmering rage built up but he stifled it. "Lilah. I wasn't faithful to you, that's true...but I did not sleep with her. Ever. I'm not making excuses, I'm just telling you my side. You can choose to believe me or not, but--"

She halted his ramblings by grabbing the lapels of his white tuxedo jacket and pulling him close. He tried to speak again but she stopped him by pressing her lips to his. God, how she'd missed the softness of his lips and the pressure of his hands on her waist, making her feel small, yet secure. He let out a small and satisfied moan, like when you settle into your bed at the end of the day, completely content and at ease. She recognized it and her heart agreed one-hundred percent. Her heart told her that he was telling the truth. He wasn't off the hook, though, not by any stretch of the imagination.

"This conversation isn't over," she said breathlessly as she pulled away from him.

"I didn't think it would be...not that quickly anyway. Um...so...what now? I can go if you like. I don't want this to overshadow this important night for you."

"You should have thought of that before you crashed the party," she said with an impish grin. "We'll just have to wing it," she shrugged, unlocking the door and opening it.

As they walked into the main room together, a collective hush fell over the room. All eyes turned to them, reminding her that her secrets never really were secret at all. Robert took note of the situation and clambered up onto the stage, snatching the microphone from the DJ.

"Didn't your mothers ever tell you it's not nice to stare?" he shouted. "Time to dance, people!"

Thumping music blared from the speakers and the party went back into full swing. Ben let Lilah take the lead; he simply stayed close and kept his mouth shut. Suddenly, Robert burst forth from the crowd, making a bee-line for them. Lilah considered bolting and letting Ben deal with it but she thought better and stood her ground.

"Are you two crazy?" He marveled, shaking his head from side to side. Somehow he looked paternal with his brow furrowed, expectantly waiting for some answers.

"Maybe," Lilah shrugged, taking hold of Ben's hand.

"Definitely," Ben added, giving her hand a squeeze.

A devilish grin played on Robert's face and he disappeared into the crowd again. Lilah made her rounds, greeting those she hadn't had the chance to earlier in the evening. Of course, the inquisition was in full swing but wisely, they both kept their business quiet, stating that it wasn't the place or time to discuss their relationship.

"Dance with me?" Ben requested, whispering in her ear.

She excused herself from the conversation and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. Once the familiar song registered in her brain, she suddenly felt a wave of exhilaration; it was the song they'd danced to at their wedding. Robert had been there, of course and suddenly she knew what his devilish grin had been all about.

"You know it ain't easy
For these thoughts here to leave me
There are no words to describe it
In French or in English
'Cause diamonds they fade
And flowers they bloom
And I'm telling you"

Ben took her hand in his and pulled her close, resting his other hand in the small of her back. Expertly, he whisked her around the dance floor, her heart swelling more and more with every spin.

"That these feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways
They've been knockin' me out lately
Whenever you come around me
These feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways
I keep thinking in a moment that
Time will take them away
But these feelings won't go away
These feelings won't go away"

"I love you, Lilah." He smiled ever so slightly and paused their dance, brandishing her diamond engagement ring and wedding band.

She recalled the night she told him to leave, throwing her rings out in their front yard. Clearly he'd collected them; she thought they'd been taken or destroyed when the grass was being cut.

The entire room had fallen silent, waiting for what he was about to say. You could have heard a pin drop.

"Please. Lillian, will you stay my bride?"