Stealing you away?{Cass<3

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

It was Valentine's day and Benji had been trying to be totally romantic for Cass. He had sent flowers to the venue for her. Red roses to be exact. He had made a special Dinner for them. and he had hurried over to the Venue and sneaked in to surprise her. He had asked Krispin earlier if he could take Cass away an hour early or something. He waved a hello the Krispin and over at Brayden as he came in."Cass?" He called out with a flower behind his back.

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

Cass had been more than surprised when she saw those flowers at work. Still all the same she had been delighted by it. It was nice to see that kind of color in gray and cold February. She put them in a vase and put them on the bar at the venue. She liked how it seemed to brighten up the area, and she didn’t think that Bray and Krispin would mind. She had very nearly forgotten that it was valentines day. She was more focused on sleeping and working and making sure she had a warm enough coat. Also there were the matters of doctors appointments and bills. She was doing okay with all of that though. Cass was mopping the floor when she heard Benji. She turned around, surprised. ”Benji, what are you doing here?”

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji grinned when he had noticed that she had put the flowers on the bar in a vase. It certainly had a good way of brightening things up around there. He grinned even more when he saw Cass. "oh just felt like surprising you by stopping by. " He went over to her and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Happy Valentines Day, my dear." then he gave her the flower that he had brought with him. He was happy to see her as usual. His eyes were filled with love for her as usual as well.

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

Cass was happy to see Benji, and she leaned the mop against the table as she embraced him in return. She was happy to see him, very happy. He brightened her day every day. She had no idea how she would have made I through everything if it wasn’t for him. Then again this last situation could have been prevented by his absence, given that it took two to tango. Still she’d rather have him around than not, no matter what it meant. “Well this is a wonderful surprise then.” She kissed him. “Happy valentines day to you too, but I have to finish moping.” Though her hands rested on his arms there was more of a space between them than normal, due to the slight but growing roundness of her abdomen. “I’ll see you when I get out of work though, alright?”

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji smiled and said"i am glad that you think this is a wonderful surprise." He hopped on stage and sat on it. "well how long will it take you to finish mopping? because i have permission from Krispin to steal you away from work early for a romantic dinner." He said with an innocent look. he laughed and added, "if you don't believe me... ask them" He pointed towards Krispin's office.Brayden and Krispin were secretly listening into the conversation.

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

Cass went back to mopping just as soon as he let go of her, but she still listened to him as he continued to speak. “Well it isn’t a wonderful surprise isn’t it?” Then she was surprised to hear that she was getting most of the evening off. As much as she liked the idea it made her worry. “I don’t know if we can afford to do that. The doctors appointments are expensive enough, and that is without even touching on all the baby will need when it’s born. I really appreciate this Benji but I just don’t think that I can.” She turned her attention back to the mop, kind of saddened that she’d have to miss out but knowing that it was all for the best in the long run.

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji pouted slightly. then he laid down on the stage and faced the ceiling for a bit as he listened to her. Sure appointments were expensive. he had looked that up... He had done the math and her missing out on just a few hours of work wouldn't hurt. "is you leaving work early for two hours on *one* day really going to hurt? " he asked curiously. Benji looked at her upside downly. He could watch her all night. He admired her at times. But he wondered what would happen if Krispin told her to go home for the night. Well he wouldn't have to wonder too much longer because Krispin was about to come in.

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

Cass was not sure what to say. She felt bad, as if she was letting him down. Still part of her knew that she should probably take a second job when she got the opportunity. She had done a few odd jobs here and there, like on Christmas. Part of her knew that she should get used to this, and yet part of her did want to be able to spend Christmases and Valentines days with him. She just wasn’t sure how possible that was going to be. “I should probably get a second job if I get the chance. Plus I know Krispin said you could but I really don’t want to seem like I’m slacking off.” She mopped a few more tiles. “I love you, more than anything, but I’m just nervous. Love doesn’t put food on the table sadly, and at the least I get to see you every night, right?” She smiled at him with that one.

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji sighed and said, "Cass, hun, if you get a second job... then i won't get to see you... because you would be so busy.and besides... you don't have to do it alone. I want to be there, I want to help.We can do this together." He flipped over and looked at her with a serious look. "I don't want to be another deadbeat dad.I want to help out as much as i can. " He was honest about it. Krispin had heard what Benji had said. he smiled because he approved of how Benji wanted to be there for his own kid and love. Benji gave her a half smile and said"I love you too and i always will.i understand that. but sometimes i can't help but wish you were home longer. "

Krispin had stepped out of the shadows and said, "Cass... Benji is right... you should take a few hours off the work would be here in the morning. Just go and have a relaxing dinner. you guys deserve it." Benji had a smirk on his face. He told her that Krispin would ok it. " Cass... you are one of the hardest working people i have working for me. so i won't think you are slacking. You need to relax" said Krispin

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

Cass sighed, she knew he was right but what was she supposed to do? She knew that they were probably going to need the money. That was just a fact of the matter. “We are doing this together, its just that I’m working right now, that is what I need to do.” She looked at him after hearing the deadbeat dad thing, surprised at that. “Darling, you are not a deadbeat. You are doing exactly what you need to do right now, and that is finish at Hogwarts. We talked about this, we talked about how one of us has to finish school.” She went over and kissed him on the top of the head. “I know things are difficult right now, but we’re managing.”

She jumped when she heard Krispin’s voice, and she spun around. She paled slightly, having been startled. She knew how wonderful Krispin had been to Jay and Benny, and especially Benji. Still she was wary of her boss, nervous of him. She did not want to upset him. Cass held herself stock still and then nodded when he finished. “Y-yes Mr. Maddox, of course.”

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji nodded and said "i know. but sometimes it feels like i am not contributing enough at times. I mean sure i am finishing up school like i said i would.... but i do also have money due to Krispin here hiring the band as the house band for now until we graduate then we could either continue being the house band or move on to bigger things. and besides my parents left me something but that i can't get into until after school." he was trying to explain what he was doing as well like how he could contribute.

"i have been saving my money for a home for us. among other things of course.because i want us to be a little family, sticking together and such." he said with a quirky smile. and in a way it was his explanation why he didn't pop the question... because he was saving all his money for a place for them.a home was more important than a ring. or at least it was in his opinion.He kissed her back.

Krispin gave her a warm smile and said,"Calm down, and call me Krispin... everyone does... " he gave her a stern look and said seriously, "now when i say relax... that is what i mean to do. You have been doing alot lately. you just look like you could use a rest. So you could leave now. In fact... Cass... go home with Benji and relax for the rest of the weekend. and i should know if you are doing more than that. Meaning no work for the weekend. just come back on Monday refreshed."

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

“Benji, benji, benji” Cass very nearly laughed at all he was saying to her. She was distracted from Krispin for a moment when he said all of that. “You don’t have to explain yourself like that, not one bit. I know what you are doing, and I know you are doing all you can with school still going on. Still like I said before, this was unplanned but I still want you to have all of the opportunities you can, that’s why Hogwarts is so important. You are doing all you can, we both are, and I could not ask for more from you because what you have given so far is excellent.” She meant every single word of it with all of her heart.

“That is an absolutely wonderful idea, and I’m so glad you have been. And we are going to be a family, we absolutely are.” Then she thought about what she said. “If you want of course, I know that I do.” Her fingers trailed through his hair and gently over his scalp. It was clear that she was not concerned about a ring at the moment.

She refocused again when Krispin spoke. She gradually accepted what he was telling her to do. She almost paled again when he told her to take a weekend off, but she could handle it. She smiled tentatively and looked at Benji. “Do you hear that? No housework for a weekend. You will have to do your own laundry.” She could use a weekend to try to get some good sleep in.

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji laughed and said, "it would be easier once school is over i suppose. well making more money would be easier." He shrugged. He was glad that she said that he was helping. He felt good about that."of course i want to be a family with you and our kid.you and the baby are who matters most to me. "

It was funny that if someone told him that he would be a father and be with the one he loves at the beginning of the year, he would have told them that they were crazy. That is how much life had changed for him in his seventh year alone.No matter how bad things were few months ago.... He was very happy.His eyes closed lightly at the feeling of her playing with his hair. It was a calming gesture.

He opened his eyes and laughed lightly at what Cass said,"of course i will do the laundry myself. i might try to spoil you like you deserve hun."

[CASSIOPEIA _____]

”I know its hard, but I really don’t want to worry about money. You let me worry about that for right now. You have dreams for the band and for yourself, and we’ll just have to see to it that they happen.” She smiled at what he said about being a family, and in some ways she felt like they were already a family. ”Now don’t you forget about the guys in that.” They owed them a lot after all.

Cass’s life had changed as well in a way. Never before had her life been so complicated and so difficult in a sense. She was broke, she had dropped out of school, and she was going to have a baby before the year was out. Still, she had never been happier. She was in love and she was finally free of the poison that had riddled her body for years. She felt like her life had potential now. It was such a difference.

”Oh you don’t have to spoil me, I should probably be spoiling you.” She had been trying to spoil him in a way. She wanted to make sure that he forgot all of the hard stuff they went though, especially his imprisonment. That had become a priority.

[BENJAMIN MONROE JENNINGS]

Benji smiled lightly and said in a simplistic fashion, " yeah sure i would love it if the band made it big. but to be honest, i would be just as content maybe even more so having a job in town and spending time with our little family. " He just meant that it wouldn't hurt him if his music dreams didn't pan out. his life had just as much potential here. He laughed and said" and how am i supposed to forget about the guys? they are like family to me as well." but obviously a different sort of family. He and the guys were like brothers... where as he and Cass and their baby were a different sort.

He reached over and poked her nose lightly and said with a smile... "no you should be spoiled tonight and this weekend. and it will be my job this weekend to make sure you are nice and relaxed." he grinned and asked, "shall we go?"