Will You Love Me? : The Golden Years

Chapter 37

You haven't cried this much in...ever. Your son was leaving off to college halfway across the world. Sure, you could visit him anytime, but you also wanted to give him his space. He was an independent man and he was going to learn all about the hardships of the world. You just wish he could still be a baby. You wish all your kids could be!

"I am so proud of you, son," Ben said as he hugged the life out of Nate. "You call us if you need anything, you hear me?" Nate nodded, but then buried his face into Ben's neck. Ben smiled and put his hand on the back of his head. "I love you so much, baby boy," he said. "Go hug your mum."

He pulled away and gave Nate a proud a smile before watching him go over to you. "Hey, mom," he sheepishly said. You pulled him in for a bone crushing hug, making him laugh. "Stop growing up," you cried. He let out a small chuckle and told you, "I'll try. I'll call every week, I promise." You hugged for several more minutes before Ben came over and gently put a hand on your back. 

"Sweetheart, he has to go," he softly told you. "His flight is going to board soon." You nodded, then reluctantly pulled away. Nate gave you a soft smile, then went over to Em and Conner to have a sibling moment. After that, he went over to Paige. 

As it turns out, it was hard for him to break up with her because...well, he loves her. They decided to give the long distance thing a try. They had a small moment together, but then Ben had to remind him again that his flight was going to board. All of you walked him to the gate and watched as he boarded the plane. 

He turned and gave you a small wave before completely disappearing. 

Ben put his arm around you and pulled you close. He started tearing up himself, but quickly shook it off. "Come on, let's go grab a bite to eat," he suggested. He took you, Em, Conner, Paige, and Chris to a nearby pub where you all had good time telling stories about Nate. Paige hadn't heard some of them, so you were going all out now that he wasn't here to stop you. 

At one point you and Ben had grown silent while the kids were chatting away and laughing with each other. You caught Ben smiling at how Chris had his hand over Em's stomach nearly the entire time they were talking. "Reminds me of you," you said in Ben's ear. He smiled and put his arm securely around your shoulder. 

After dropping off Paige (making her promise not to be shy and come to visit every once in a while), you all made your way home. Chris has hardly been to his dorm lately since Em was dangerously close to her due date. You and Ben approved of him staying over and being in her room. After all, they are adults now. 

"Ugh, I'm exhausted," Ben groaned as he face planted onto the bed. "Emotionally or physically?" You asked from the ensuite. "Both," he mumbled into the pillow. "My baby boy is away at college, my baby girl is going to have a baby of her own...christ, lets go back in time."

You got into bed with him and sighed. "I would like that," you told him. "Back to when the twins were running around with diapers on their heads. When they woke us up in the middle of night and we had to team up to get them back to sleep. How about when they heard you cuss and decided to copy it?"

Ben let out a deep laugh and remembered that day fondly. "I wish we met in high school," he suddenly said. "It would have given me more time with you and more time to get a bigger family going." You, in your emotionally exhausted state, closed your eyes and chuckled, "Yeah, then we'd have five kids."

You started to drift off, but Ben was looking at you oddly. "Five?" He asked, pulling you from your deep sleep that was aching to come. "Why do you say that?" Your tired brain seemed to have processed what you said and why. "Uh...nothing. No reason. That's just my guess is all. I'm going to get some sleep."

You turned away from him and prayed he would let it go. Silly you, though, as you married the most persistent and curious man alive. "I'm curious, though," he said. "After Scar, you said you didn't want anymore, not because we were getting older, but because you were tired. Do you think if we started younger, you'd be less tired of getting pregnant?"

That didn't make much sense, but you went with it. "Yes," you told him. "That's exactly what I meant. You're so smart, now I'm going to sleep." You could practically hear the gears turning in his head, but you were glad he didn't carry on with it.

Soon after, he spooned you and went to sleep. That was close...too close.

**

"Come out," Em whined. "Please, Mason, please." Ben came into the kitchen in time to hear her pleas, then asked, "Mason? That the name you chose?" She nodded, then let out an "oof" when the baby kicked. "I was going to name him Christopher, but..." She trailed off when another kick came her way. 

Ben put his hand on her stomach to feel it, then asked, "But...why? Christopher is a great name. Not that Mason isn't." He smiled when he felt his grandson kick, but then saw the pain on Em's face. "Because," she answered, practically huffing, "we don't need another one." Ben thought for a moment. Was their a Christopher in the family he didn't know about?

"You mean...after Chris," he told her, assuming she meant her boyfriend. She merely shook her head after feeling another blow. "I'm not sure what you mean, Em," he told her. "There's no other Christopher in the family." She just shook her head and told him, "Never mind. Can you please get me some water?"

He kissed her head, then got her a glass that she emptied in no time. As he got her another glass, he wondered what she had meant. You and her have been cryptic lately and it's been driving him insane. 

What did you mean by five children and who in the hell is Christopher?