Sing For Me

Make Them All Yours

Ben's point of view

It was early I'd left my sleeping beauty in bed feeling slightly guilty that I'd kept her awake last night as the baby had already started to wear her out, but thinking back on the reason made me smile her new found naughtiness was simply gorgeous be it baby hormones or not, when I think back to our first time together, how painfully shy she was, still scarred from what he had done to her. She put her trust in me, her need to be loved so strong and to feel her slowly open to me made every effort I put into making her mine completely worth it. She was the ultimate prize. To see her now, my little bud had opened out and bloomed, knowing that she fancied me rotten as I did her was just delicious.

I'd been surprised that she'd asked me last night was I happy, could she not see how happy she made me, she thought what she gave me was not enough which was quite insane, what could I do to make her see this. There was only one thing more that I wanted from her that would just make our little life together perfect but I'm not sure she could go through that again but then could I, I knew it would be different because we loved each other and we would be together forever no matter what. Our love and our baby had secured the bond between us. Did I dare ask her.

I start to make up a breakfast tray to take up for us when I hear Gran coming down "Morning love" she says 

"Morning Gran, did you sleep well?" she laughs 

"Oh you know me lovey, sleep like a log always have" I smile it was true "Your Grandad used to say he could bring the whole herd of cows through the bedroom and I'd still be lying there" she's one on her own is Gran.

"You look deep in thought lovey is everything OK?" I could never keep anything from her after my mother left she used to look after me when Dad was away or working she knows me inside out. I sit at the table with her and tell her what Lisa had said last night and that it had bothered me. I also told her about the card that Matt had sent the children neither Lisa or I had mentioned it since that day it came. There was that niggle in the back of my mind that he could somehow spoil things hurt Lisa and the children all over again.

"You know what you have to do lovey?" Gran says to me "You need to make them yours, so should he ever have the nerve to try and show his face he couldn't touch them" I knew what she meant it made me nervously excited to think of it. I explained that I wasn't sure she'd want to after everything she'd been through with him.

"She loves you Ben so very much, she told me that night you found us down here" so that's what the girl talk was. "You saved her, those were her words" she takes my hand. "Ben lovey life is very short, bad things happen, usually to those that don't deserve it, like that sweet girl upstairs,those two children and like you, but when you are given the chance of happiness you need to grab with both hands and don't let go" she was right as she always is. " I lost your Grandad too young lovey, what your mother did to you and your Dad broke his heart and took him away from us" I feel a lump in my throat and tears stinging my eyes.

"What that man did to Lisa is heartbreaking but you can put it all right and give her the life she deserves" that was my only wish always had been since the day I met her. "You deserve to be happy too my darling, what Wendy did to you was just as unforgivable she wasn't worthy of you" I'm crying like a little boy like I had the day my mother left even after all she'd done. Gran comes and sits next to me putting her arms around me like she had that day.

"Yes Lisa is scared but that is natural lovey after everything she's been through, she's so happy about the baby because she knows it's the one thing you've always wanted a family, your already a Daddy to those two little angels of hers they deserve to be happy too, you all do"

"Do you think she'll have me Gran?" I ask her still sniffling

"I know she will, marry her lovey and she will be yours, she'll be a Langley and so will Riley and Ellie, no one will be able to take them from you" Gran heads over to the big dresser at the back of the kitchen, goes in the drawer bringing out a little box.

"I've been saving this for a long time" she hands me the box I open it and inside is a diamond ring, small and delicate with the little diamonds arranged in the shape of a flower on a gold band "It was the ring your Grandad gave me when he asked me to marry him all those moons ago, I want you to have it Ben I want you to give it to Lisa" I was lost for words it was beautiful it was almost made for Lisa. 

"Oh Gran I don't know what to say" she looks at me 

"Say nothing, your Grandad would want you to have it, he was so proud of you and would be now to see what you've made of yourself despite everything" She pulls me in for a hug holding me that tight I could hardly breath.

"Now all I have to do is ask her" I say to her 

"New years Eve lovey, what better night to ask, start the new year as her husband to be. Her husband I liked the sound of that, to be able to call Lisa my wife this sent my mind racing.

"Right you can make me a cup of tea for that" announces Gran 

"Make that two" calls Dad making an entrance "My gorgeous grandchildren are still fast asleep, yesterday must have worn them out" it was lovely to hear Dad talk of them like that but he felt the same way as I did about them, they were my children and all I needed to do was seal the deal on it.

"What's this then?" asks Dad spotting the ring on the table he turns to me grinning 

"Your Son is going to ask that cherub sleeping upstairs to marry him" Gran tells him 

"I should bloody well think so too" says Dad patting me on the back. Dad sits at the table next to me "I'd be proud to call Lisa my daughter in law, not like that last thing that you married" I sigh at him "But we all make mistakes lad I should know more than anyone" it hurt me what my mother had done to me but what she did to Dad was just as bad he was such a kind, loving man and didn't deserve what she gave him.

He changed from his jovial mood to something a little more serious. "I'm proud of you son, I always have been, I've never forgiven myself for letting your mother treat you like she did" I look at him

"It wasn't your fault Dad" and I meant that she was just an evil piece of work and that was it, had no idea how to be a mother not like Lisa which was one of the many things I loved about her, what a wonderful mother she was to Riley and Ellie and would be to our son or daughter.

"I wish you all the happiness in the world lad I really do, when are you going to ask her?" 

"New years Eve when we go out" I tell him and he smiles knowing I've made the right choice well Gran had. Speaking of which she is sat wiping her tears pretending she hasn't been crying.

"Benjamin where's my tea then boy we are dying of thirst here" typical Gran I pick up the ring placing it in the pocket of my dressing gown to wait till I can put it on the finger of the girl I love.