Temptation

Permission

"She's not going to care."

"She might."

"She won't. She practically threw up when she found out we were trying for a baby, what makes you think this is going to be any better?"

Ben sighed and squeezed her hand. "Let's just get this over with, then we'll go home and try over and over again for a baby. How's that sound?" She snickered, then glanced over at him. "Can we order pizza?" She asked. 

Chuckled, he told her, "Of course! We'll order pizza, drink some fine soda, watch some movies, have some sinful sex...it'll be a great night no matter what happens. Okay?" She took a deep breath, then knocked on her mom's door. "Okay," she told him. 

A few moments later, her mom opened the door. "What now?" She snootily asked. Cassie was taken aback, but brushed it off, and said, "Mom, we have something to tell you. Can we come in?" Kate huffed and stepped aside. 

Ben was already annoyed and could see Cassie was already getting upset. He was starting to think that she was right, that this wasn't a good idea. "Okay, what do you want?" Kate asked them as they walked into the living room.

Cassie squeezed Ben's hand as she said, "Well, um...Ben and I are getting married." She showed Kate the ring, but it was merely glanced at. "You never asked me for permission," she told Ben. Ben cleared his throat, then said, "No, I didn't. Normally, I would ask for permission, but I didn't need your's. Actually, I went to visit James's grave and I asked him."

Cassie looked up at him in awe and asked, "You did?" He smiled down at her and said, "Of course." She leaned into him with a wide smile while her mother looked on in disapproval. "I don't approve," Kate said. "You do not have my permission."

She looked smug when Cassie was at a loss of what to say. "Baby," Ben said to Cassie as he glared at Kate, "go start the car. I need to have a word with your mother." He handed Cassie the keys, then kissed her head before she walked out. 

Once she was gone, Ben turned to Kate and took a deep breath to calm himself. "Listen," he started, "I know you don't approve of me. I know you never have. I don't know why and, quite frankly, I don't give a shit why. I love your daughter more than I have ever loved anyone and I will be damned if anyone gets in the way of our happiness. I don't give a damn if you're her mother, I am going to be her husband, I am going to father her children. I am going to make a vow to protect her at all costs...even if that means protecting her from you."

Kate gave him a double take. "Oh, don't look so surprised," he said, having to laugh. "You've ruined her life! You're not going to continue to do that anymore. Stay away from her. Don't even think about coming to the wedding and don't even think about coming near our children once we have them."

With that, he walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him. When he got to the car, he unintentionally slammed that door, too. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I, um...I may have told your mum not to come to our wedding. I also told her to stay away from our family once we make it. I realize I should have  consulted with you first before saying that, but I just want so badly for you to be happy and safe."

Cassie reached over and took his hand. "Thank you," she told him. He gave her a small smile, then asked, "I didn't overstep any boundaries?" She thought for a moment, then said, "I think you overstepped every boundary, but I think it was completely necessary. I would have never told her any of that because I just don't have the guts to. I'm glad you did."

He brought her hand up to his lips and fluttered some kisses on it. "How about we go get that pizza?" She nodded with a smile and he started to drive to their regular pizza place. "You get the pizza, I get the movie?" Cassie asked. 

"Sounds like a deal."

**

"All done, love?" Cassie nodded, so Ben took her empty plate and the pizza box into the kitchen. He then collected their wine glasses and filled them up with some more soda. "Here you are," he said, handing her the glass. She took it and thanked him as he sat back down. 

They continued to watch their movie as they were cuddled up to each other. Cassie tried her damn best to stay awake, but today was taking an emotional toll on her. She had her head on Ben's chest, so the rumbling of his laughter whenever a funny part of the movie came on was lulling her closer and closer to sleep. 

It felt like only a few moments later when she jolted awake. The movie was over and Ben was gently brushing her hair back from her face. "Let's get to bed," he softly told her. She yawned and stretched before standing up and dragging herself into the bedroom. 

When Ben came in, he smiled and leaned against the doorframe at seeing his fiancée splayed out on the bed, dead asleep. "Come on, sleepy girl, move on over," he gently said as he carefully moved her to her side of the bed. 

Once he got in bed and spooned her like always, she sleepily mumbled, "Sorry we didn't have sinful sex." He chuckled and kissed the back of her head. "Darling, we can have sinful sex anytime for the rest of our lives. Your sleep is more important."

When he heard her soft snores, he smiled and allowed himself to be dragged along into sleep with her.