struggle for peace

Her head bent low over the parchment spread across her dining room table, Emmeline taps her foot rhythmically to the low hum of the wireless in the corner. Egg sleeps beside her, his head heavy against her chair and she has a feeling that her rabbit is off terrorising everything she can find in her bedroom. The work she had brought home was not difficult; the usual administration, but Emmeline cannot pretend that she’s not just using it as a form of busy work.

She knew that Benjy was supposed to pop in today; they had made tentative plans for their mutual day off (with Benjy still recovering and Emmeline with simply a lot of days she was owed), plans for what Emmeline knew was ultimately their first date, and yet she felt completely in the dark. He hadn’t owled her with ideas or thoughts for their night in, and had she not reigned herself in, Emme was certain that the uncertainty would start to drive her utterly mental.

As if hearing the chaotic path of her thoughts, a knock at the door breaks her from her reverie and Emmeline pads barefooted across, opening the door with a grin before her expression falters into bewilderment. “What-” she starts, taking the dress from his grip with the shadow of a smile on her face, “You’re ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.” The heat of her remark is completely overshadowed by the grin on her face and the laugh in her throat and Emme leans forward to peck his cheek softly before she turns toward her bedroom.

“I’ll hold you to that. My lord.”

Emmeline’s beaming smile that quickly descended into confusion at his get up brought laughter to his lips. “I’ve never claimed to be anything but ridiculous, Miss Vance. You should know by now that I’m utterly stupid,” Benjy stuck his tongue out at her, shuffling into the flat as quickly as Egg would let him. Honestly, the size of Egg still astounded Benjy sometimes - especially compared to Emmeline’s slight stature. His cheek tingled slightly as she kissed him, and Benjy couldn’t help but ponder about how lucky he felt. He had found someone who was kind and caring and funny and just like him, and he hoped that he wasn’t going to blow it with his ridiculous idea of a date. 

Or, indeed, that she wanted to continue dating him at all in any sort of actual capacity as a date rather than just a friend with benefits.

He knelt with Egg for a few minutes, ruffling Egg’s fur until Emmeline came back. Benjy stood, reaching to take Emme’s hand. “You look really beautiful,” he murmured, turning to capture her lips briefly. “Okay, close your eyes and don’t open them again until I say,” Benjy said, reaching with his free hand for his wand. He’d been to Harrods earlier in the day to try and find a small side alley that they could apparate into away from prying muggle eyes, and so he focused on that memory as he apparated them away.

The noise of the bustling London street was the first thing that hit, but at the end of the alley lay London’s largest store - exclusively for posh people, and for one day only, Benjy and Emmeline. Tugging on Emme’s hand, he guided her towards the end of the alley until a door with the harrods branding was visible and then turned to face her, popping his monocle on. “Okay....open your eyes. I thought we could live like the posh people for a day,” Benjy said with a snorting laugh. “Am I totally insane? Please don’t leave me alone in central London dressed like this....at least take pity on me.”

There was almost a sense of urgency as Benjy knocked on Emmeline’s door. He’d forgotten to send an owl ahead, such was his excitement. He’d planned a first date without telling her much, and it could horribly backfire...but he’d spent enough time with her by now that he thought this would be just the sort of insane hilarity that Emmeline would appreciate. He was in a full suit, with a waistcoat, a tie and a hidden monocle that he would pull out at the optimum moment. 

The first time they’d really met the pair had joked about how expensive Harrods could be, and how fancy it would make them seem. Now Benjy was dressed to the nines, with a new dress in his hand for Emmeline. He could hear Egg bounding around behind the door, and eventually the door creaked open to reveal Emmeline. A beaming smile immediately appeared on Benjy’s lips, as it always did when he spotted her. She was perhaps the most beautiful woman that Benjy had ever seen, and he was eternally grateful that his feelings were at least returned. 

Benjy offered up the dress with a sheepish chuckle, he could see a look of confusion on Emme’s face at his get up. “Will you put this on and trust me?” He asked, give Egg the attention he deserved. “I want to take you out today.” It was a bold step, after all it was just a few weeks since he had been released from the hospital but he would be safe with Emmeline. His new wand rested inside his suit pocket, its weight a reminder by his ribs that he was safe. “I promise it’ll be worth your while....m’lady.”

Straightening her skirt across her knees as she practically melts into the seat of the car, Emmeline can’t help but compare it to her own bomb of her car back home. Not that she often had to use it, preferring to simply use public transport where she could, but she needed something to get herself around when the tube could not. And unlike this car, hers was not at all in the best shape. Then again, she supposes, she tended to spend all her spare money on books and university classes, so a new car had never particularly been on the table.

Shaking such a thought away as they come to a stop, Emmeline turns her full attention back to Ben, as if she hadn’t been exceptionally aware of his presence beside her. She can’t help the smile that spreads across her face; an automatic response when he was near, and a laugh bubbles up in her throat at his words, “Are you about to tell me that I’m not like other girls?” she teases, reaching to brush her fingers against his arm, “Just to save you more sleepless nights, should there be another date after this, I’m a woman of simple pleasures. Make sure you show up and pay attention to me, maybe talk about my dog, and that automatically makes the date special,” she says, deciding there was no point even pretending that she wasn’t interested in more dates after this. “I feel like we understand one another too. You’re more than you look, you know.”

Freezing with her hand on the door, waiting for Ben to open it for her instead, Emmeline shoots him a bright, beaming smile in response, taking care not to embarrass herself as she steps from the car. Her heels have barely given her any extra height, and she glances up at Ben, her eyes flashing slightly at his description of what their date entailed. “All of that sounds…amazing. And extravagant, and wonderful, honestly. Please tell me you didn’t do all this just to one-up my failed Tinder date,” she says, frowning a little, “It does make you more endearing. Not that you needed the help at that.” Reaching up on her toes, Emmeline presses a feather-like kiss to his cheek before linking her arm through his. “Shall we?”

“Would it be too cheesy if I did?” Benjy grinned in amusement. It was true in many respects that Emmeline wasn’t like the usual women he tended to find himself involved with. The big difference is that Emmeline had no idea who he was, and he wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Emmeline would disappear quickly if she had an idea of his real occupation, the danger he put himself in every day. She didn’t seem like the sort - she seemed more like the sort of lady that wanted a comfortable boyfriend and a comfortable life, not one with endless risk and danger. The longer he could keep up the pretence of a normal life, the more time he might get to spend with her - assuming this date went well, of course. 

“I’m always happy to talk about dogs. Have I told you about my dog before? He insists on sleeping by my feet every night, no matter how hard we tried to train him out of it initially. I think he sees it as his duty,” Benjy chuckled. “Peter, his name is. Peter Barker....I couldn’t resist,” he said, though he had noted her interest in further dates. He’d risked a lot bringing her here, he could already sense Alex’s dissatisfaction. Surely by now Marlene would have told him that Benjy had taken her car for date purposes, it was for that reason that Benjy had left his phone in the glove box so that they wouldn’t be interrupted by Alex’s incessant texting. Alex would surely complain when he got home, he could see it now. ‘Why bother taking her for a nice meal in the gardens when you could take her for a decent meal in London, have a quick shag and then forget about her.’ It was inevitable, and sure to be painful.

“Maybe a little,” Benjy confessed, a small honest smile playing on his lips. “You deserved far better than being left alone like that, so I wanted to give you a proper date. If my brother hadn’t been with me that night, I might have even tried to convince you to abandon your date and come with me to my box,” he said nonchalantly. “Maybe that can be our second date...another crack at Shakespeare,” Benjy chuckled, stepping towards the house after Emmeline linked her arm with his. 

Dragging her eyes somewhat reluctantly away from Ben’s figure, Emmeline sinks down into the closest chair, carefully strapping her shoes to her feet. She can’t help but clearly note just how well his suit matches what she herself was wearing, and her eyes shine at the thought. Look at him, deliberately picking something that would complement her, she thinks fondly. For all his bravado and smoldering stance, Emmeline had a feeling that perhaps Ben was far softer on the inside than he was allowing others to realise. Excluding the disaster that was Hamlet, this would be her first date in quite a long time, and there was no pretending that Ben was already ticking off a number of boxes on the ‘good date’ checklist.

Watching as Egg nuzzles at Ben’s legs, something that he only did with those he was really drawn too, Emmeline finds herself beginning to beam. Her dog was one of the two most important things in her life (the other, of course, being the rabbit hiding in the cage in the corner) and she trusted Egg’s judgment of people impeccably. If Egg seemed to mistrust someone, that meant Emmeline would often mistrust them as well. “I was pretty proud of that one,” she grins, “I’m sure you have something special, but at the same time, Egg does love to smell other dogs. What kind of dog do you have?” 

Letting herself be led to the car, Emmeline smiles as he opens the door for her. While she normally preferred to do the typical ‘chivalry-type’ actions herself, she did appreciate how courteous Ben was being, and not just because it was really making him twice as attractive as he already was. “You say that, and yet you’re behaving exactly like a perfect gentleman,” Emme teases, straightening the skirt of her dress over her knees. “I have very high hopes for you, so I’m hoping that you reach them.”

~~ time skip ~~ 

Her eyes widening at the sight of the building, Emmeline leans back heavily in her seat, turning her gaze toward Ben only briefly, before it moves back toward the windows of the car. “Alright, okay, I give in,” she says breathlessly, “You win all of the date awards. I hope you’re proud.”

Benjy Fenwick, mob boss, did not get nervous.

That was part of his job, his role as head of the family. If Benjy wasn’t confident in his actions, how could anyone else be? Even if Benjy himself wasn’t a hundred percent certain, he had to be confident in himself. But a small part of him had to admit that he had been nervous about this date. Something about Emmeline told Benjy that she deserved a proper date - more than dinner and a movie, or even something like a trip to the theatre. Something in Benjy wanted to impress her, and he’d put real thought into their date. A trip to a literary hero’s home and then dinner in the grounds afterwards would surely be enough?

His shoulders relaxed slightly as Emmeline voiced her approval. “I’ll have you know I spent plenty of evenings up late pondering what we could do. I thought you deserved something special,” Benjy said with a soft smile. “You’re unlike any woman I’ve met before....I know we haven’t known each other long, but I just feel like we understand each other.” A small pang of guilt shot through him at that, knowing he was hiding a significant part of his life from her, but if things progressed then they could get to that. The pistol in its holster that rested at his side, hidden from view, had never felt heavier. 

Benjy got out of the car, stepping around to open the door for Emmeline. “I thought we could have a leisurely wander around the house and the grounds and then later this afternoon we’ll have dinner in the garden.” He’d hired it privately with a chef for that time, but Emmeline didn’t need to know that. That would only lead to more question about how much money he had and how a lowly security guard had come into it. “I’m definitely proud that you like it though. Does it make me more endearing if I say I was very hopeful?”

Emmeline’s laughter only seems to grow at Benjy’s words, her whole body shaking with the effort as she leans forward to tuck her head against his shoulder, stifling her giggles against the warm skin of his neck. Her cheeks flush a little at the thought of Benjy’s wedding, and much like their previous conversation about children, her mind can’t help but wander immediately to what her own role in such an event might take. She knew it was far too soon to think of such things, that they had yet to even discuss what this ‘thing’ between them even was, outside of a significant appreciation for one another’s faces, with even more appreciation for one another’s mouths. But Emmeline also knew she would be lying if she said she wasn’t already a little bit besotted with Benjy Fenwick, and that she wanted him in her life in whatever shape or form she could get him. 

Once she had managed to restrain the last of her laughter, Emme lifts her head with a grin, pressing her forehead softly to Benjy’s. “I think it depends on the context. But judging from his erm…” her blush darkens, “Less than subtle comment, now that I think about it, I think he’d just be amused because he knew what he interrupted, and the only ones who were really upset about the whole thing were you and me, given said…interruption.” Smiling as Benjy leans to press his lips to hers again, Emmeline returns the kiss softly before she pulls away, forehead still pressed to his. “You could always send him an apology owl.”

Laughing once again at the sound of Benjy’s groan, Emmeline loops one arm firmly around his neck, as if there was any possibility that they could get any closer. Her other hand drops to his waist where her fingers play gently with the hem of his shirt, fingertips occasionally brushing the soft skin underneath. “I can quit mine too. We can summon food to the sofa, only leave for bathroom trips,” she muses lightly, wishing at least a little that such a thing could be possible. “Nothing but snogging all the time. Maybe a little more as well,” Emme teases, “Good. And now we both know, which is good, because I really really think we have other things to be using our mouths for right now. And I’ve just noticed that there’s an awful lot of flour on your shirt, which means you should probably get rid of it.” Edging herself closer to Benjy, Emmeline presses their lips toward enthusiastically once more, giving in to the urge of her hand to properly creep up his shirt.

If they were going to live on his sofa forever, she was certainly going to try to enjoy it.

*~*fade to black*~*

The way Benjy leans into her fingertips causes Emmeline to linger just a fraction longer than she might have previously, resting her thumb against his skin for a long moment. They had always been fairly overzealous with their ‘touching’ and she couldn’t help but feel as though something had drastically shifted in the last few weeks. Something, after all, that she was not about to complain about. “You could read them comics to sleep every night,” Emme muses, a gentle smile on her face and a yearning in her gut at the thought. “Have you started writing your ideas down yet?”

Unable to quite stop herself, Emmeline takes a small step forward, wrapping her arms firmly around Benjy’s waist in a firm hug. The look of dark sadness that had shifted across his face had broken something inside her, and with how much she knew that she cared about him, she couldn’t stand to see him so distraught. “It doesn’t make any sense, and it’s awful that it happened to you. You never, ever deserved something like that,” she says firmly, her voice muffled from where her face is pressed to his chest. “I’m always here if you need to talk.” 

Emmeline’s giggles about the incident only increase at the sight of Benjy’s embarrassment, although she isn’t sure he truly has anything to be embarrassed about. “I’m sure it’s okay,” she coos softly, one hand still cupping Benjy’s cheek, “He’d let you know if you really bothered him, and he seemed pretty light-hearted about it.” Emme can’t stop herself from smiling once more as Benjy leans to kiss her again, and she relishes the feel of his lips against hers, murmuring softly, “I’m very glad you’re the one who told me. I’m not sure I’d have believed James.”

One arm still looped around Benjy’s neck, her face close to his, Emme shifts herself on his lap, ensuring that she was completely comfortable as she soaks in the way he gently circles her hips. “We could have been doing this for months if we’d realised,” she muses, pecking his mouth once more, finding it harder and harder to not kiss him now that they had started. “Merlin, I thought you were cute in that store,” she confesses, a small blush flaming the apples of her cheeks, “And I did want you as a friend, I still want you as a friend. You’re like my best friend…but I always wanted more as well…” 

Benjy’s whole face lit up at the idea of him reading comics to a small hoard of children. The future was going to be beautiful, as soon as they sorted this war out. That was what he was fighting for - fighting for his future in a society that didn’t want to eradicate him solely for his heritage. “That sounds perfect. I have a few notebooks around that have some rough sketches, and some rough ideas. I started one while I was in the hospital....after I came off all the drugs, of course,” Benjy said, eyes wandering away from Emmeline for a brief moment to rest on one of the notebooks that was left on the side near his couch. 

Benjy returned her hug with a fervour, taking in the feel of Emmeline in his arms. It was a dangerous game he was playing - to allow his heart to be so open, so vulnerable. The closer he got to her, the more they touched like this, the more acutely he knew just how much his heart would break if things turned out to be nothing. “I don’t think it’ll ever make any sense. I....I thought I was done for, for certain. I can only assume whoever it was didn’t know Andromeda was a healer, or they surely wouldn’t have left me there. Thank you....maybe one day I’ll be able to talk about it all properly. It’s still too raw. The physical wounds have healed, but....the mental wounds are still too raw.”

Benjy’s blush grew impossibly darker as Emmeline giggled at him. “Thank God it wasn’t Lily. I’d have died of shame. I don’t think James will be that upset, but....still. I swore at him at his own wedding! If someone swore at me at my wedding like that I don’t know what I’d do,” Benjy mused. “I’m not sure James Potter could be anything other than light-hearted to be honest....although he did sound very serious when he threatened me. I’m glad too. It was good to be able to tell you myself. And it means I get to do this,” Benjy trailed off as he pressed his lips to hers once more. He could kiss her for years and never get bored.

Swinging the front door open, Emmeline tries her best to look as casual as she can, despite the way her eyes almost immediately map Ben’s figure. She didn’t know why she was surprised by how good he looked; he was very clearly an extremely attractive man and that was only accentuated by his having dressed up. Still, she thinks, did he have to look quite as though he had been poured into his suit? And why, of all things, was she getting so worked up by the little flash of skin at his collar. 

Clearing her throat awkwardly, knowing there was no chance that Ben had not noticed her staring, Emmeline waves for him to come inside briefly, sinking down on the closest armchair to pull her shoes on her feet. She had initially chosen these heels because they were cute and comfortable, but Emme wasn’t going to pretend that she didn’t appreciate the small height boost that they granted her, especially given how much taller Ben was. Her cheek almost burns from where his lips had brushed against it, and she smiles brightly at the way Egg sniffs around his knees as if investigating this new friend. She had brought dates home before; her former boyfriend for one, and the occasional person who had made it past her ‘three dates before they came home with her’ rule, but never had Egg been quite so interested in another person.

“You’re looking pretty gorgeous yourself,” she says sweetly, her nose wrinkling in amusement as she collects up her purse, scratching gently behind Egg’s ear on her way past. “His name is the Eggcredible Hulk, but just Egg for short. He’s my big precious baby,” she says, unable to stop herself from gushing, “He seems to really like you.”

Taking Ben’s hand with ease, hoping she didn’t accidentally convey just how excited she was, Emmeline nods her head, shooting him another smile. “Lead the way, good sir.” 

A smirk played on Benjy’s lips at the way Emmeline’s eyes had lingered on him as she opened the door. It wasn’t an unusual reaction for women to have when it came to him; there was something about the Fenwick family that drew eyes. Benjy wasn’t a fool, he understood that within the circles that they moved in their reputation spoke for itself. But even amongst normal life, Benjy and Alex seemed to draw eyes. Perhaps it was their confidence, the way they held themselves as if they were always in control of the situation. What was unusual, however, is the fact that Benjy wanted her to look. He wanted her, he’d never met someone before who seemed to be perfectly on his level. That was why he’d put so much thought into the date, into what he was wearing so that it matched the dress that he had picked out for her. 

Ruffling Egg’s fur with a beaming smile, Benjy glanced over towards Emmeline as she spoke. “The Eggcredible Hulk....that’s brilliant,” he breathed in amusement. “I think I quite like him too. Maybe he can just smell my dog on me, or maybe we do have something special,” Benjy said, following it up with a wink. 

As Emmeline took his hand, Benjy led her out to the car with a cheeky smile. “I’m hardly a sir,” he quipped as he stepped round to open the car door for her. Once she was settled in the car, Benjy got into the drivers side and started the engine. “I’m really hoping that I’ve managed to read you right, because if so this date might be the best one you’ve ever been on,” Benjy said as they pulled away from the house.

~~ time skip ~~ 

what: mob!verse who: @benjyfvnwick​ where: emme’s flat / date numéro un when: mid-september

Smoothing her dress over her hips, Emmeline frowns at her own appearance in her tiny bathroom mirror, twisting and turning on the spot to ensure that everything sat where it was supposed to. When the parcel had arrived at her front door, accompanied by a note, Emmeline couldn’t help but laugh at the cheesiness of it all, no matter how touched she really was inside:

A beautiful dress befitting a beautiful woman. I can’t wait to see you. B.

And the dress was both beautiful and extremely well-fitting. Emmeline was sure that had she divulged the entire truth to Amelia; that she had essentially sent a man she had met thrice her measurements, her best friend would have had some choice words for her, but Emmeline was too in awe of what Ben had chosen to really care. How he had afforded what was clearly an extremely high-end dress on a security guard’s budget she wasn’t sure, but she certainly wasn’t about to turn it down.

Pouting at herself in the mirror, trying to decide if the red lipstick was too much, Emmeline leans a hand down to scratch gently at the top of Egg’s head; her beloved dog nosing against her knees for attention. Egg’s head suddenly perks up at the sound of the door, and Emmeline can’t hide the smile that suddenly plays at her mouth. She had been texting Ben on and off since she had last seen him in the library, and she couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t still enthralled with the thought of him. 

Padding her way to the door, bending to scoop up her shoes on the way, Emmeline carefully unlocks the chain-lock before pulling the door open, a sly smirk already spreading across her face as she does so.

“Attractive, well-read and he shows up early for dates. Are you sure you’re not hiding something nefarious under it all?”

To Emmeline, Benjy hoped that the date would look effortless and smooth, when really it had been anything but. He’d spent a hell of a lot of time finding a place he thought she would enjoy, and then a dress that would look perfect. He had enlisted Marlene’s help after going round and round in circles, asking privately far away from the ears of Alex for her help in arranging a date. A long trip to Harrods later and Benjy had found it - a dress that he couldn’t wait to see her in.

He’d chosen one of the least flashy cars they had - again, Marlene’s car. Marlene had a new Mini Cooper that absolutely would not go anywhere near as fast as any of Benjy’s cars, but it was less suspicious than showing up in the ferrari or the porsche. Smoothing down the casual suit that he wore, Benjy knocked on the door. If he was honest with himself, a small amount of nerves had settled in his stomach in a way that Benjy hadn’t felt for a prospective date in some time. Normally he was filled with confidence that the date would go the way he wanted, but with Emmeline he was filled with hope. There was something about her that was enticing, and he wanted to know more.

As she opened the door, Benjy took a look at her and his lips cracked into a beaming smile. “You’re beautiful,” he breathed, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Nothing nefarious at all. Just a man that knows how to treat women right,” Benjy said with a shrug. He reached down to pet Egg who was sniffing at him, ruffling the dog’s fur with a smile. “He’s so sweet. What’s his name?” 

Straightening up, Benjy offered his hand towards Emmeline. “We have a bit of a journey so if you’re ready, shall we head to the car?” 

Emmeline can’t help the soft smile that spreads across her face at Benjy’s words, at the tenderness that filled his tone, and she has no doubt that he would do whatever he could to ensure his children could one day grow in a world of peace. Her own almost-overwhelming feelings for him feel as though they might double from the thought, despite the fact they had yet to even discuss what this growing tension between them meant. Emme knew that she hadn’t made up his attempt to kiss her at the wedding, but what that meant for them now, and for any…future, she was still unsure. Reaching to brush Benjy’s cheek with her thumb, Emmeline grins at him brightly, “We can do that. Beat this war, for any future babies of yours, hey?” she says lightly, before a joyous laugh bursts out of her, “That sounds amazing! Merlin, you’d be brilliant at that!”

Unable to stop herself, Emmeline swears under her breath at Benjy’s words, trying to fight back the urge to clench her fist and stomp her foot in what was certainly not an adult tantrum. She couldn’t blame Kings and Moody for the lack of information, she knew they were both working as hard as they could to help Benjy out, but the injustice of it all still sent a wave of burning anger through her. “It was probably him, the fucker,” she says lowly, before shooting Benjy an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry I brought up a sensitive issue…”

Smiling stupidly as Benjy moves closer, Emmeline loops one of her legs around his waist as her hand moves to rest warmly atop his. Her other hand plays loosely with the strands at the back of Benjy’s head and she can’t help the bubbling laugh that spills from her mouth. “I can’t believe you told him to ‘fuck off’ at his own wedding,” she says, barely audible through her giggles. She certainly hadn’t found it funny at the time, too busy drowning in the feeling of rejection, but in retrospect, it amused her greatly. “But honestly, Eggy is just interrupting all my amorous attempts left, right and centre.” 

The tension between them is almost palpable as Emmeline shifts herself on Benjy’s lap, her lips still moving slowly against his as she presses their foreheads together. Allowing him to pull away, abet briefly and with a small whine of disappointment, Emmeline watches his face a moment before she speaks, her voice light with both amusement and happiness. “Because we’re both very very dumb,” she says, pecking his lips lightly between each ‘very’ before her tone drops, “I convinced myself that you…erm…that you didn’t like me like that. That I was just…a friend, I suppose.”

Benjy’s smile grew so wide that his cheeks started to ache as Emmeline brushed his cheek gently, leaning into her touch. They had always been the sort of friends that were touchy, happily bumping into each other and brushing shoulders as if it was the most natural thing in the world. But now the touches felt different - more intimate, more caring. “My future kiddos would be the cutest little things. Bouncing all over the place with energy, full of love for comics and all things sci-fi. Since I started thinking about the comic book dream, it’s really taken root in my brain. I already have lots of ideas to get started with.”

A dark look crossed Benjy’s eyes briefly before it was replaced with that ever familiar sadness that had settled over him the last few weeks. Answers about his attack seemed almost an impossibility now, and the potentiality of ever getting his memories back seemed to be out of reach. “Nobody else makes any sense. I can’t think of anyone else I’ve pissed off enough to do something like this, it just makes no sense,” Benjy frowned, the dull ache in his head making an unwelcome return. “It’s okay. I don’t mind. It’s difficult, but if I don’t talk about it with people I trust then it’ll be harder.”

Benjy’s cheeks darkened as she brought up the wedding incident. “I didn’t know it was James,” he protested meekly. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop apologising to James. I’ve already sent an apology card,” Benjy hung his head in shame. “He threatened me you know? Threatened that if I didn’t tell you, he’d tell you himself. Turns out I didn’t need that encouragement,” Benjy murmured, leaning in to brush his lips against hers again.

Shaking her head in amusement, Emmeline can’t help but smirk a little in Ben’s direction, hoping that she hadn’t read his terrible excuse wrong. She had spent so much time since their last meeting monitoring her surroundings, in case they were to meet again, that she couldn’t help but wonder if Ben had done the same. His commentary on disliking local councils aside, he wasn’t really skulking around the property law section for that alone, was he? “It doesn’t, but I still don’t think that particular volume would help you,” she teases lightly, her eyes shining with amusement. “But as a future lawyer, are there any other books I could possibly help you find?” 

Her shoulder still leaning heavily against the bookshelf, Emmeline nods along with his words, her cheeks flushing delicately at his compliment. Since when had she become such a blushing wreck? She wonders to herself for a moment, before clearing her throat to speak. “I just want to try and do some good for the community. Fight people’s battles when they’re not able to fight their own, so to speak.” 

Emmeline allows herself a brief moment to properly cast her eyes over the man in front of her, as if to reconfirm to herself that she did, in fact, find Ben extremely attractive (as if such a thing needed conformation). “I don’t think I was insinuating,” she says lightly, biting down on her lower lip, “I think I was straight up saying it. Your brother doesn’t seem to like me very much as is, so I might as well be honest.” Emme hadn’t imagined the way Alex had looked at her with disdain at the theatre, but she supposed it wasn’t him that she was trying to impress. “Does this mean I need to arrive at this date in my underwear and allow you to dress me? Isn’t that the opposite of how it’s supposed to go?” she says coyly, unable to stop herself from smiling at his hand against her cheek. “You are quite flattering, and you have bought me a drink already. Perhaps it does need to be a date…”

Benjy could kick himself for the excuse he’d used, but Emmeline seemed to accept it easily. Even if she didn’t entirely believe him, which her teasing suggested, she wasn’t turning and running for the hills. Maybe he wasn’t the only one that had been hoping to catch a glimpse of the other. There’d been a few times he thought he’d seen her in a crowd, before she vanished again and with it his hopes of seeing her again had slowly dwindled. The library had been a last ditch attempt before he was going to set her out of his mind. “I think I’ll be alright from here on in. I’ve got a much better idea on planning permission and the sort,” Benjy snorted. “I think you’d be good for that. Just from what I’ve seen, you seem like the sort of person that would really fit that job.”

Benjy raised his eyebrow at her boldness, though he couldn’t shake the thought from his mind that she was really fucking attractive when she was biting her lip. If he didn’t think she might slap him for being too presumptive, Benjy might have grabbed her and kissed her there and then. “Alex doesn’t like many people that aren’t family. He’s always been like that,” Benjy said offhandedly. “You won’t hurt his feelings too badly, he’s a big boy.” A lazy smile played on his lips as he leaned against the shelves, raising his eyebrows at her. “If you want to show up in just your underwear, I’ll hardly complain. However, I don’t think I want my date to be arrested, so if you send me your address on text I’ll get the dress sent over a few days before the date.”

Benjy would have been happy to stand here and talk to her all day, but Sirius appeared behind him and whispered in his ear that business had come up and they had to go urgently. Nodding, Benjy stood up straight and glanced back towards Emmeline. “I’ve been called in to work urgently. I’ll text you later?” He asked with a smile, pressing a brief kiss to her cheek before he vanished with Sirius into the shelves.

Ben’s words only continue to intrigue Emmeline more and more; this strange enigma of a man whose mystery only drew her closer, instead of pushing her away. Emme knew that she couldn’t be stupid about this; that she wasn’t to let a pretty face and a nice body distract her from anything that could possibly constitute a red flag. And, while he was odd, with his strange comments, Emmeline didn’t think she needed to be too concerned. Did she? “I mean, good luck to you. Just…uh…make sure those books are up to date,” her face breaks out in a teasing grin, “Because the one you were holding was from 1974.”

Satisfied that she had at least caught Ben in his thinly veiled excuse, and trying not to let the possibility that he had truly been looking for her excited her too much, Emmeline pushes a loose strand of hair impatiently from her face, wrinkling her nose in Ben’s direction. “I could never practice criminal law,” she says honestly, although it had been a small area of interest during her first year, “I’m studying civil. I might make the merge into family law one day, but I’ll see. There are a few non-profits I’ve got my eye on first.”

Rolling her eyes good-naturedly, as if Ben hadn’t been hinting at his ‘competition’, despite his protests, Emmeline arches one eyebrow slightly. Now that she had seen the brother in question, she couldn’t help but disagree with him. Ben was definitely the better-looking sibling. “I’m sure he would. No one wants to admit to being the less attractive one,” she remarks, before beaming at him, “I mean, there’s not much I could really do to change it, but thank you.” 

The laugh rolls out of Emmeline’s mouth before she can stop it, her shoulder still leaning heavily on the bookcase. “Clearly when I projected this aura of being highly independent, he read it wrong,” she says, glad that she really had no proper feelings about the failure of the date, and could now laugh about it. Her already arched eyebrow rises even higher at Ben’s words, a coy smile playing at her lips. “I certainly won’t say no to a surprise date, nor will I say no to you picking me up,”  she says, “But buying me a dress? Either you’re suggesting you think my wardrobe is terrible, or this is some form of ‘Pretty Woman’ scenario I wasn’t aware of. Should I be worried?”

Benjy’s eyes flickered back to the book he had held with a hint of amusement. He was glad she didn’t push a little further, because he didn’t really know anything about property law. Their land was so spacious that he’d never really had to worry about asking for planning permission, nor did he think the council would take kindly to a request from the Fenwicks. “The law doesn’t change that quickly,” Benjy said with a small shrug, though he was grinning at her. Really, his mind had gone blank of any excuse as to why he was in the library the moment he’d set eyes on her - he hadn’t expected to see her again, but here she was.

A large part of him relaxed when she said that she wasn’t engaging in criminal law. Law at all was still not brilliant but anything was better than criminal law. He was sure Alex would have plenty of choice words for him, but right now, he didn’t need to know. “From the limited knowledge I know about you, I think you’d suit a non-profit. You seem like that sort of lady.”

Quirking his eyebrow as Emmeline deemed Alex the less attractive brother, another small smile came to his lips. “Are you insinuating there that I am indeed the more attractive brother? Alex would have your head,” he chuckled lightheartedly. He couldn’t help but think that there was definitely something to do to change her last name....but that was getting ahead of himself. “Nothing to be worried about. I promise you. Your wardrobe is fine, but I’d just like to do this. I think you’re beautiful, and I want to buy you something that will really make you shine,” Benjy said, reaching up to brush a strand of hair away from her face. His hand lingered a little longer than it needed to, before he drew it back. “So is it a date?”

Emmeline fights the urge to raise an eyebrow at Benjy’s confession, at knowing exactly how many children he might one day like to have. She knew that this did not necessarily mean they would all be biologically his, that with a history in foster siblings, Benjy knew of other options, but still, Emmeline could not help but let her thoughts wander to who exactly might help co-parent these children. “If the way you speak about Dora says anything,” Emmeline muses, “Those children would be so, so very loved.” Such a thought warms her heart, knowing that Benjy truly just wanted to care for and protect those around him. That was, after all, why they had both joined the Order. “What sort of ideas? Do tell,” she probes with a smile, before shaking her head. “He wouldn’t. I’d train him not to squish.” 

Beaming at the prospect of getting to spend even more time in Benjy’s company, more proof that whatever awkwardness between them was fading, Emmeline nods eagerly - but not too eagerly, she hopes - at his suggestion. There were so many cafes in Diagon Alley that she had yet to step foot in, that she was thrilled at the prospect of going with one of her favourite people. “That sounds really perfect,” she says gently, before bumping his shoulder with hers. “Is there anything…have they found any evidence? Kings won’t let me near the case or any of their files.” 

Laughing against Benjy’s mouth at his protest, Emmeline scoots toward the edge of the bench, shifting her legs so that Benjy might move closer. The feel of his lips on hers is intoxicating, and she can’t help but wonder why she hadn’t done this earlier, why they had waited so long to make any form of move on one another. 

Pulling away far enough that she can speak, but not so far that there was truly any distance between them, Emmeline maps Benjy’s face a moment, her own dopey grin wide enough to match his. “What do you mean twice?” she asks, pecking his mouth between words, “Wasn’t it just the wedding?” 

She can’t help the involuntary yelp that escapes her as Benjy lifts her from the bench, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he moves them across the room, lips still grazing his. There is a slight jolt as he sinks them onto the couch, and Emmeline shifts so that she straddles him properly, her knees on either side of his hips. Her grin only grows wider as he moves his hands, his fingertips burning her waist, and she rests her forehead heavily against his, soaking in just how connected she felt in that moment. “You’re one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met too,” she says, voice barely more than a whisper, “But less talking, more kissing.”  Her hands move to cup his cheeks warmly in her palms, pressing her mouth to his once more.

It was surprisingly intimate discussing how many children he wanted with Emmeline, knowing how he felt about her. It almost felt like he was talking about  their future, but that was a few steps ahead yet. “Oh any child of mine would be so loved. That’s why I’m fighting really - not just for me, and my friends, but for my future. I don’t want any child of mine to grow up in this world, I want them to know they’re accepted and loved,” Benjy said seriously for a moment. It wasn’t an option for him to bring a child into the world while the war still raged around them. “I’d like to start my own line of comic books for wizards....making that style of media more accessible to wizards, but also opening it up to not just be for children.

Benjy leaned against the counter top heavily at Emmeline’s question, shaking his head sadly. “They’re going to get memory specialists in and try and see what’s going on, but they haven’t found anything. Whoever it was stole me with no evidence in muggle London, and dumped me outside Andromeda’s before vanishing again. I just....I can’t think of anyone who would be more likely to do this than Lestrange.”

Benjy’s hand rested on Emmeline’s knee as he shifted closer to her, and he felt like his whole body was on fire. It was electric, and he couldn’t get enough. “I tried at the park, but then Egg ran off and you followed and my confidence was dashed down because I was sure that you’d seen what I was going to do and just hadn’t chosen to do anything. And then I shouted at James at the wedding and couldn’t bring myself to try again, I was so embarrassed about shouting at the groom,” his cheeks burned red at the memory again.

Emmeline purses her lips slightly at Ben’s words, trying to decipher what exactly his intentions were. She didn’t think he was telling the truth; at least not the whole truth, but she didn’t think that she was in a position to truly question it. It was, after all, only their third meeting. And no matter how oddly drawn to him she felt, there was no denying the fact they were practically strangers. Her mouth droops in sympathy at his words, knowing the difficulty of losing a family member, and she shoots him what she hopes is an encouraging smile. “If those books are too dry for you, you know you can ask the council? That’s sort of…their job really,” she remarks, “But each to their own. I just like old and stuffy books to be honest. It’s the perfect career for me.” And it was best if she didn’t spend too much time focusing on just how physical Ben might be.

Beaming brightly at Ben’s words, Emmeline’s heart thrums a little at yet another similarity between them. How was it that she had managed to stumble upon a man who had such similar niche interests to herself? Had the universe decided it was now time to reward her properly? “That’s because hardback books and Shakespeare, particularly when combined, are a very significant level of sophistication. Which doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy other types of books as well,” Emmeline says before laughing, a distinct bell-like sound of happiness. “You have absolutely no competition when it comes to Tinder Jake, I promise. I broke that off rather quickly afterwards. And you’re in luck that I’m becoming rather fond of your face. And for next time…” Emmeline pauses, attempting to build some form of suspense, “My last name is Vance. So you have a full name to work with.” 

Shuffling herself slightly closer to Ben, following his lead, Emmeline continues to lean heavily on the bookcase, allowing her body language to completely open up. “The stakes for that date were so very high,” she teases, her eyes shining with amusement. “I mean, it’s certainly an option. But the bar has already been set, how do I know that you’ll be able to surpass it?” Emme’s voice is low as she looks up at him, deliberately doing so through her eyelashes, although she struggles not to grin. “I feel as though I need more details on your plans before I commit to giving out my number.”

Benjy shook his head at her suggestion of asking the council. “I hope you know that the council are incredibly inept. It’s easier for me to, y’know, find all the forms and stuff and file them myself, and if I know the law then I don’t have to....do it all again,” he said feebly. “Well, the council in my area are inept anyway. I obviously don’t know where you live, but the council near me aren’t interested in much,” he shrugged. “I like old and stuffy fiction books, not law books.” Benjy paused for a moment, looking at the shelves as he pondered the best way to ask the question. “So what sort of law is it that you’re looking at going into a career with? I hear criminal is the most interesting, but if you’re interested in old and stuffy...”

Her smile brought out a genuine one from Benjy, and he was pleased at least that he hadn’t been pining on his own. He would deny it if asked, of course, but he had really been hoping for another not-so-chance meeting. He genuinely believed that it was worth at least one date. Now, if she said she was going into criminal law that might be a different matter entirely, but at least then he’d found out and put the whole situation to bed. “Who says I was asking about my competition?” Benjy asked, though his voice was full of amusement. “I’ve heard good things about my face, but if you ask my brother he’d tell you I’m the ugly one,” Benjy snorted. “Vance. Emmeline Vance. I like it.”

“Oh so high. Leaving a woman to drive herself to the date, buy her own wine, sit on her own - how ever shall I top it? Well how about this - you give me your number, and I come up with something I promise that you’ll like. I’ll buy you a new dress, pick you up from your house, and I’ll make sure it’s worth your while. It’ll be a surprise, but a good one,” Benjy suggested with a small smile.

Shifting from foot to foot, Emmeline continues to smile cheerfully up at Ben, taking a moment to push her glasses atop her head. It takes her only a moment to slide the book back where it belongs before she turns her full attention back to the man in front of her. It was definitely good to see him, she would freely admit that. She would be lying if she said after their meeting at the theatre, and her subsequent failure of a date, she hadn’t immediately texted Amelia about her encounter, bemoaning her stupid actions.

“Property law?” she asks, raising an eyebrow in amusement at the thought, “Extremely important. Are you planning on purchasing a house? Or are you going to join me in the hellmouth that is a law career?” His excuse, for that was what it sounded exactly like, wasn’t the strongest, but Emmeline could appreciate the attempt regardless. Perhaps it was not just her who had been on the lookout since they had last met.

Laughing gently, and leaning against the shelf beside him, tilting her head so that she could see him properly - good Lord he was tall - Emmeline shrugs slightly. She was, if anything, rather predictable in her movements. “What can I say, I have a very specific array of interests. But you’ve done very well to work out where I might be,” she teases lightly. “For class. I’ve got an essay I wanted to get a head-start on, and it’s easier to do that here than at home.” Her eyebrow quirks once more at his less-than-subtle probing and Emmeline fights back the urge to smile even wider. “I think you and I both know the answer to that one.”

“Property law,” Benjy repeated before realising just how stupid that lie was. She was working in law, and he didn’t really know what type yet. All it would take was one slightly specialised question and his whole lie would unravel. “I already own my own house, inherited it from my parents when they passed. We’re, uh, looking to make some amendments to the grounds. I was just wondering about planning permission and the sorts,” Benjy frowned. “Oh I’m perfectly happy working security. Upholding the law in other ways,” Benjy couldn’t help the little smirk that curled at the edges of his lips. Upholding the law was furthest from what he did. “I don’t really have the mind for a law career either. I’d much rather be physical.”

“You’re not the only one with very specific interests. Hard-back books and Shakespeare are right up at the top of my favourite things though,” Benjy said lightly. “Well I had to put my brain to work. No last name, no number, no facebook...it was a hell of a lot of effort, Emmeline. All for the mere idea of a date. I didn’t even know whether you had indeed hit things off with your tinder man and would never want to see my face again,” Benjy said rather dramatically. 

The blush that stains Benjy’s cheeks has absolutely no right to be so adorable, Emmeline thinks for a brief moment, before averting her gaze. While it had taken her a while to fully realise the turn her feelings for this boy had taken, now that she was aware, she couldn’t help but wish it was a little less obvious. She’d like to get through at least one conversation with Benjy without getting distracted by how much she liked his face. “How large?” she asks, genuinely interested and trying hard not to let her mind drift to what position she could possibly take in this situation, “And would you go the stay-at-home dad route? That seems like something you would love to do.” Eyes widening at the thought, Emmeline begins to shake her head, laughing as she does so, “Oh Merlin, no. I think I want a dog of each size. Egg-sized, normal big dog-sized, medium-sized dog and then a little one. Just for some variety.” 

Reaching across to brush Benjy’s arm with her fingertips once more, Emmeline shoots him a sympathetic glance. She knew how much he detested his job, but how much the Order needed him to remain there. She had been lucky in that her position was right where they needed people. “What if we got lunch on Monday?” she suggests, her eyes mapping his face to gauge his reaction. “I’m at work as well and we might as well take advantage of working in the same building. I could come to you, or you could come to me, get out of the office for a bit?” Her hand stays pressed to his arm as she speaks, hoping that it offers some comfort, “If there’s anything I can do to help…I guess, uncomplicate things, you’ll let me know, won’t you?” 

Swiping the wooden spoon alongside the edge of the bowl, gathering herself more of the batter to eat, Emmeline is certain that she has chocolate smeared around her mouth, but finds it difficult to care. At this point in their friendship, Benjy had seen her in all matter of states, including practically naked barely an hour ago; she was no longer that bothered by how he might view her. “My mother isn’t much of a baker, but we always try to make my Dad a cake for his birthday every year. I think the bowl at the end was almost a bribe to get me away from my books long enough to come help,” she says with amusement, blowing some of the flour off the end of her nose with a small puff of breath.

Laughing gleefully at the smear of chocolate spread up Benjy’s cheek, Emme can feel her own cheeks begin to ache with how wide her grin is, spurred on by the sound of his laughter. His hair is practically white with the thick dusting of flour she had rubbed into it, and a small blush burns at her cheeks at his mention of showering. Emmeline, please, she thinks to herself, unable to pull her eyes away from him. “I don’t know, I think you make a dashing elderly gentleman, and I’m sure Alex would agr-”

Her words die in her throat as Benjy steps closer, and Emmeline can’t help but notice how her position on the bench had put them at a perfect height. Her heart begins to thud rapidly in her chest at his words, breath halting in her throat and almost involuntarily a soft ‘eep’ escapes her mouth as his lips press against hers. His mouth tastes like chocolate and Emmeline finds herself smiling through the kiss, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck as the wooden spoon falls from her fingers and clatters to the floor. She isn’t sure how long the kiss lasts before they break away slightly, and her heart continues to pound in her ears. “Took you long enough, Fenwick,” she breathes, lips brushing his as she speaks and her eyes catch his gaze heatedly before she closes the distance once more.

“Maybe four or five? Maybe even more. We used to have a lot of kids around when my parents were alive, they fostered you see. It was a bit weird going from that to just....Alex and I. But I’d love to have lots of little kids to dote on,” Benjy said with a fond smile as he entertained fantasies of the future. “I think I would. I have a few ideas about what I’d like to do when the war is finally over and I can leave the ministry. Fabian planted some ideas in my head while I was at the hospital,” Benjy couldn’t wait to be free of his ministry hell. The job itself wasn’t horrific, but he would forever associate it with Rodolphus Lestrange. “Egg might squish your little dog.”

“Lunch on Monday sounds....perfect. It sounds like exactly what I need,” Benjy nodded, trying not to look too desperate. “Maybe we could go to a little cafe in Diagon? If we apparate, we should have enough time to get there and back before our breaks are over. I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure things will uncomplicate very quickly. Not when I’m almost ninety percent certain that it was Lestrange that had me. I’m almost certain.”

Benjy’s heart was practically in his throat. This was it. He’d laid everything on the table now - there was no going back from this. He might have ruined their friendship forever, he might have put a wedge between them that would never be removed. But then her arms were around him and her lips were returning his kiss and God it was so right. He’d never been so sure of anything. 

“Hey!” Benjy protested slightly, but then her lips were on his again. He pulled back ever so slightly with a goofy smile, shaking his head. “I tried twice. I really tried,” he murmured against her lips, his arms wrapping around her tightly as he lifted her off the side and moved swiftly over to the sofa.