Chapter Text
The pub was busy that night. Warm, raucous laughter floated over the candle-lit tables and mingled with the live fiddle music lilting from the corner, all the way over to our little high-top near the massive, crackling fireplace — and in direct tonal conflict with the stone cold glare coming across the tabletop from Larry. He sat with his back straight, his brow knit, his mouth steeled in a scolding frown.
“Larry.” I tilted my eyebrows at him pleadingly. “Larry please don’t be mad.”
“It’s not that we didn’t want to tell you, mate,” joined Ben, leaning forward on his elbows. “Actually, I wanted to tell you from the beginning.”
“No you didn’t!” I frowned at him. “You were the one who said ‘lets keep this to ourselves at work’!”
“Yeah, at first!” He shot me an amused glare that said 'not helping'. “Not once things got serious, of course I’d want to tell my best friend!”
“Are you kidding me?” I laughed through gritted teeth. “You’re really throwing me under the bus right now?”
“I’m just saying, my bond of trust with my best friend,” he leaned further across the table and gave Larry a pointed look. “… is intact and I would never betray it on purpose!”
Larry held up a hand and we stopped squabbling, settling into our chairs like scolded children. He looked back and forth between us, still as bewildered as when we had first come back down to the office after kissing on the roof, after telling each other how we really felt. His face hadn’t lost that comically shocked expression since he first noticed that upon reappearing, Ben’s hand was tightly holding mine.
“When did this all start?”
I cleared my throat and looked over at Ben expectantly.
“You’re doing all the talking anyway,” I muttered with an amused smirk. “Go ahead.”
“Technically speaking,” he sighed, looking over at me. “It started when we kissed at Martha’s party.”
“Martha’s—” Larry’s brow furrowed, like he was doing math in his head. “What, the first episode wrap party? When?? I was with you the whole time!”
“Actually, you sort of…” I cringed, twisting my fingers nervously. “… walked in on us.”
He looked aghast.
“When??”
“I don’t know!” I chuckled, shrugging. “We were out on the stoop, you went in to get a drink, and one thing led to another!”
I felt a giddy release of dopamine every time I re-told the story, even in an abbreviated form. I'd tell each person in the bar how Ben and I got together if they asked -- and it wouldn't get old.
There was a long pause as we watched him carefully, hoping that he would take it alright.
With relief, I saw Larry’s confused face fade into a knowing smirk. He folded his arms over his chest and looked at Ben with a smug sparkle in his eye.
“So, it didn’t start that night at the pub then?”
“What night at the pub?” I looked at Ben curiously.
His jaw gripped and he scowled as Larry began to snicker.
“No, nothing started at the pub,” he growled, an amused note of warning in his voice. “Thank you, Larry.”
“What night at the pub?” I repeated, directing my attention to Larry.
He cocked his head and looked at Ben with a wry smile. These two, I thought with an inward eye roll. More like brothers than best friends, for better or for worse.
“Stop it…” warned Ben, staring comical daggers at his friend.
Larry uncrossed his arms and lifted his hands in surrender.
“All I know is that your first day at work, we all went to the pub after and Ben was saying some stuff in the car ride home, that’s all I’m saying!”
“Yes, thank you,” Ben grumbled, trying to kick him under the table. Larry dodged it with a chuckle. “She doesn’t need to know any humiliating drunken rambles, thank you very much.”
“What did he say?” I grinned eagerly, leaning on my elbows.
“Oh, god,” groaned Ben with a mortified grin, letting his face fall into his hands. His embarrassment was adorable.
Larry shook his head, laughing.
“He might have said something along the lines of, ‘Oh my god, that’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met in person’.”
My cheeks flushed as I began to chuckle with delight, casting my mind back to that night, remembering the low rumble of his voice in my ear as he hugged me goodbye. I looked over at Ben, who was rubbing his face.
“Really?” I asked him with exaggerated preening. “Go on!”
“I don’t know if you remember, Ben, but I drove you home that night and you wouldn’t stop going on about it!”
“I was off my face, to be fair,” laughed Ben, finally taking one hand away from his face. His cheeks were pink and he was biting his lip in an effort to fight a laugh.
Larry leaned over to me.
“He said, and I quote, ‘oh shit, I like her, don’t let me do anything embarrassing in front of her.’”
I felt a rush of affection as I turned back to Ben. I squeezed his forearm and rested my cheek on my hand, beaming at him. He returned my gaze and grinned, and his hand wandered fondly over to my knee.
“So, I guess I’m just shocked that he actually managed to talk you into going out with him,” chuckled Larry good-naturedly.
“Thanks, mate.” Ben’s sarcasm was threaded with a congenial laugh.
“Any time.” Larry picked up his fork and ate a potato. “Oh, and he also said you smelled good.”
“Oh my god,” groaned Ben. I choked on my wine, dissolving into laughter.
After a few more wry barbs, Larry excused himself to go to the bathroom.
I rested my chin on my hand and turned to Ben, my face cracked in a beaming smile as I took in his profile and the happy crinkle around his eye.
“What?” He blushed, looking down into his glass with a wry smile.
“So,” I smirked. “I smelled good, huh?”
He laughed again, the soft sound making a warmth bloom in my chest.
“I think I’ve made it perfectly clear that you smell good.”
“I’m just thinking about what it would’ve been like if you’d made a move that first night out.”
He lifted his head to look at me, and as our eyes met, I felt both of our smiles expand. His eyes were shining as he took me in.
“Tempting as that was,” he lilted with a raised eyebrow, “I don’t think I’d dare go back and change a thing.”
His smile softened, and I felt so held by his gaze, so cherished, that it almost made a lump appear in my throat.
“Me neither,” I decided. “Although I maybe would’ve picked us a different karaoke song.”
“What?” Ben looked affronted. “’Don’t You Want Me, Baby’ is a classic!”
“Yeah, but we could’ve done something more epic — ‘Paradise by the Dashboard Light’… ‘Time of My Life’ —” I gasped, excitedly. “We could’ve done the lift!”
He choked on his drink.
“Oh, this is where it starts,” he laughed. “The disappointment — Mags, I am, in fact, a middle-aged man.”
I snickered.
“Now, now,” I murmured, leaning in to speak softly into his ear. “You know full well you can lift me.”
I grazed his temple with the tip of my nose as I whispered, and I felt his hand tighten on my thigh.
“Yes, well,” he rumbled through a wry smile. “That’s different. I’m highly motivated in those instances.”
I felt a delicious twist in my belly as he turned to face me and our breath mingled — suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get back to his place for the night and start properly celebrating.
“Aww…”
Larry had reappeared, and he beamed at us as he sat down. We pulled apart, somewhat reluctantly, and laughed.
“I’ll tell you what,” he continued, picking up his drink. “To be clear, you have my full blessing—”
“—Oh, thank goodness,” interjected Ben in a flat, sarcastic voice as he turned to me. “Darling, we can be together after all.”
“—But what I’m really angry with you two about is the fact that Martha found out first, and she’s gonna be so, so smug about it!”
“Ah,” said Ben, nodding at me. “That’s all you, I’m afraid.”
“I’ll take the blame for that one, Larry,” I conceded with a laugh. “Consider me contrite.”
“Apology accepted,” said Larry with a wry smile. Then, he clapped his hands and leaned forward in his seat. “Now — you two, couple, blah blah blah; lets talk about the real news. Mags… you’re making a pilot for ITV??”
Ben squeezed my thigh again as he looked at me with a proud smile. I laughed.
It looked like getting home and ravishing him would have to wait just a little longer, but as I began regaling the whole screenplay story to Larry, I found that I didn’t feel in much of a hurry. We have time, I thought with a contented, relaxed smile. Finally, we have plenty of time.
Eventually, the evening did wrap up. Larry couldn’t stop grinning and shaking his head with happy surprise as he said goodbye to us. We watched him disappear down the street before turning to walk over to Ben’s car, both unable to keep from smiling.
“Finally,” rumbled Ben as his hand found my waist. “I do love him a bit, but I wanted very much to get you straight home.”
“Hmm,” I laughed, leaning into him. “Don’t get your hopes up. Now that the secret’s out and the ticking clock is no more, who knows — d’you think the spark’ll be gone?”
We arrived at his car just in time for him to take my hips in his hands and steer me back until we were pressed up against the passengers’ side door. I gasped as he leaned his body against mine, his hands slipping just an inch under the hemline of my shirt and setting my skin ablaze.
“Somehow,” he murmured in a low, earthy rumble, grazing his nose against mine. “…I don’t think that’ll be the case.”
I pressed my hips forward against his, and as I felt his desire for me rigidly growing and a hot throb course through my body, sending my mind into a heady, breathy swoon… I didn’t think that would be the case either. I smiled against his mouth, a small sound of eager pleasure escaping me as he kissed me, his tongue opening my lips and his breath syncing with mine. I snaked my arms around his neck and held him close, my body vibrating desperately and my heart swelling.
“I still can’t believe it,” he whispered, breaking our kiss but staying close.
“What?” I looked up, searching his face.
“Can’t believe you’re here,” he smiled, a vulnerability sneaking into his gaze. “Can’t believe you’re going to be here.”
I beamed as he echoed my exact thoughts. I can’t believe I get to be here, either.
He leaned his forehead against mine and we stood for a moment, holding each other, smiling into the night and confirming the reality of our closeness with our touch.
When I opened my eyes, something snagged my gaze over his shoulder.
“Uh oh,” I muttered, nerves beginning to flutter in my chest.
“What is it?”
I let my hands slide from his neck to his coat lapels, pulling away just enough to nod past him. He turned around and I felt his body react in mild shock as he spotted the two paparazzi photographers snapping pictures of us down the street.
“Oh,” he said in a surprised murmur. “Blimey.”
“Maggie!” The two men began calling my name as they strolled over to us. “Maggie, is it a date night? Have you seen Jason Sands’ latest tweets?”
“I’m sorry,” I said, worry beginning to overtake me.
Ben had never had a public-facing relationship like this. I’d been through the Mess of the Press, but for him it was a brand new experience.
What if it’s too much for him? I felt my mouth go dry at the thought.
“It’s alright,” he answered, turning back to me with a gentle smile. “Come on, lets go.”
His hand grasped mine in a protectively tight grip. He opened the passenger door and saw that I got inside comfortably, blocking me from the photographers with his body. Then, he coolly strode around to the drivers side and slipped in.
As we drove down the road, I felt my heart hammering with anxiety.
“I’m sorry,” I said again. “I swear, I was never tabloid bait before — but ever since what happened with Jason, your paps have been… interested, I guess. I’m sure it’ll die down.”
“Are you okay?” He sounded concerned.
“I’m fine,” I said, but my voice was wavering.
“Hey,” he murmured, and his hand found my thigh. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to let them bother you. Do you want to go back to Kamie's? Would that make you feel safer?”
I felt a relieved laugh escape me. He looked over in surprise, and I wrapped my hand around his in my lap.
“Sorry,” I chuckled, taking a deep breath. “I just — I’m okay with them, they don’t scare me. I’m just…” I swallowed, nervously. “Well… it’s out there now. Those pictures are gonna be in the Daily Mail, probably. Your friends, your parents… Is that something you can handle?”
Now it was his turn to let out a relieved chuckle.
“Maggie,” he said patiently, giving my hand a squeeze. “I’ve never had any interest in being in the Daily Mail — a lifelong disinterest I’m sure you share —” He raised his eyebrow pointedly, and I snickered, remembering the ridiculous ride I’d been on with that bloody excuse for a paper. “But as for everyone knowing about us…” He glanced over at me, a loving glint in his eye. “Suits me just fine.”
I smiled, leaning my head back against the headrest.
“And to be perfectly honest,” he continued with a guilty smirk, “I’ve already told my parents.”
“What?” I laughed in surprise. “When?”
“A few days ago,” he admitted. “Before your premiere. I know, I know, we were meant to be keeping it quiet, but they’re very discreet. Scout’s honor.”
I felt a swell in my chest — relief, excitement, disbelief, adoration, all swirling to form a perfect cocktail of contentedness.
“I’d like to meet them."
“Well,” he smiled, taking his hand out of mine to put his blinker on. “I didn’t want to put any pressure on you, because obviously it’s early days, but they’re coming to London next week. They’d love to meet you.”
I beamed at the prospect.
“Sounds perfect. And my parents’ll love you — how do you feel about making a trip to Queens?”
Ben laughed and put his hand back on my knee.
“I can’t wait.”
Our car swept across Westminster bridge and I gazed out the window, remembering our moment in the snow in this very spot not so long ago — the urgency of that night, the walls coming down and the undeniable, unavoidable connection between us. I had felt so much that night — it was in the flickering candlelight at the restaurant and the swirl of lamp-lit snow and the heated, hungry circle of his arms at home that I had realized without a doubt that I was in love with him. And every feeling in my chest was charged with the painful, miserable knowledge that no matter how powerfully I felt that love, I couldn’t have him. I’d be leaving soon, we’d be ending soon, I couldn’t have what I so desperately wanted.
And now here we were, driving home together, playfully planning our near future together, relaxing in the knowledge that we had each other after all — and it somehow felt even better than I could’ve imagined. All my things were at Kamie’s — which was, of course, fine. She was thrilled for me to spend the night at Ben’s, but the plan was still for me to live with her while I worked on my pilot. After all, as Ben had said, it was early days. But the excitement of all the possibilities of the future had me feeling like I was floating as we headed into South London toward his townhouse where I was sure a giddy, sleepless night awaited us.
I glanced over at him and watched him smile as he felt my gaze.
“What?” He murmured.
“Nothing,” I said softly, my face cracking into a bright, warm grin. “Just happy.”