Surprise! Surprise! :D

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben died approximately two months ago (Give or take, depending on if one is referring to Inn time or his own world's time), but he doesn't remember the two months that he's been dead during. He doesn't even remember dying at the moment

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[thteve]

Steve was not watching the door. He was, unsurprisingly (after the last time and Mallory's adoration of him), babysitting again. So he was sitting in a chair with Mallory in his lap, bouncing her and sing-songing at her.

But then...

Click. Whir. He knows those sounds, he knows those sounds, and his head whips around.

"BEN!"

Hallo, Ben. This is a Steve attaching himself to you. Oh, with a baby smooshed gently between you. She seems quite bemused by this.

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben hugs Steve back, laughing and smiling rather brightly.

"Steve, when'd you get a kid? I don't remember you being pregnant when I left!"

For being dead and not having any idea about it or where he's been for the last two weeks (two months really) he's in a very good mood.

[thteve]

"Oh! This is Mallory! Mally, this is Ben." He coos a little at her. "Ben's one of my very best friends in the whole wide world."

He bounces her a little on his hip, then grins back up at Ben and pulls him into a tight one-armed hug. "I'm babysitting for Sue's girlfriend. Isn't she just the cutest thing ever? God, I missed you, what took you so long? Like I'm one to talk, but seriously!"

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben sends Mally a silly smile and a tiny wave.

He hugs back, sill smiling.

"The very cutest." His eyebrows raise at the next question. "What do you mean what took me so long? How long have I been gone?"

[intensivistmd]

Chase has only been back in the Inn for a little while. A day or two maybe. So the bruise he stumbled in with is going to be glaringly purple and red against a well-defined jawline.

He's been trying to catch a nap on one of the many couches the Inn has to offer, but it seems to be failing him quite a bit at the moment.

Especially at the flash of a camera, the sound of a voice.

Chase thinks he might very well be halfway to unconsciousness. But it doesn't stop him from standing, moving, and, well, Ben, you might just get on good Aussie kiss right then and there.

How's that for a 'oh-my-god-you're-back-welcome-back' present?

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben smiles as Chase's lips hit his and he tilts his head kissing him hard, right back. The intensity of the kiss surprises him, a little. How long had he been gone? Why is his brain all muddled?

Ah, well.

He deepens the kiss and slips his free hand back into Chase's hair.

Right now in this embrace. It feels like he's been gone forever. Far, far too long.

[intensivistmd]

Chase knows by the kiss alone that this? Certainly not a dream, oh no.

One of his arms wraps around the photographer's middle, and the other lifts to rest gently against the side of his neck, fingers applying minimal pressure, perhaps to make sure Ben was real.

He presses into the kiss until his lungs are burning for air and he breaks it, breath quick. "I love you."

Chase isn't one to spout the words so easily, but this? A moment for those, definitely.

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben smiles, brightly at Chase, keeping his hand in that gorgeous hair.

"And I love you." It's not hard for him to read that there's something more there in the words and the very intensity of the moment so quick, but he doesn't know what.

It would really help if he could remember the last two weeks.

"But why do I get this constant feeling that I'm missing something?"

[fallen_april]

There is a pregnant girl right in the middle of the lobby. She's obviously showing, though not near popping yet. And she is, unlike the boys, completely oblivious to Ben's entrance.

She's gotten a bit of a haircut, so it's just barely brushing the top of her shoulders, and... well, the showing. But otherwise, she's the same old April.

Just wait until she sees him.

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben snaps a photograph of her, too.

Of course, he recognizes her instantly, but candid shots are the best and he has no idea that she thinks he's dead, but geeze where'd the pregnancy showing come from?

"April!" He grins and waves from the entrance, bounding over to her. "Last time I saw you, you were so... not showing. Does a couple weeks really make that much difference?"

[fallen_april]

April looks up. And stares, because there's no way... not after all this time...

But it is, and when she manages to lurch out of her chair to attach herself to him, he's warm, and it's nothing like the pain and the complete brokenness of just after his death.

"Oh god," she says, breathless. "Oh god, you did come. I didn't think... does JD know you're here? We have to find him!"

[kingofgaychickn]

Ben hugs her back, tightly, surprised, but not at all hating the tight embrace. He slips his hands up and down her back quickly, because it seems like she needs it, for whatever reason, and he certainly would never deny April comfort.

"Come what? Where? I just walked in the door and I can't remember the last two weeks of my life and I am so confused."

[smallstonesteps]

Reki starts at the flash of the camera, coming close to dropping her book. But as she turns around, irritation is replaced by curiousity.

"What is that?" she asks, looking at the camera.