Ben DaVine

[evan..relic]

Ben picked her up gently and hugged Erika close to him, 'Welcome back Eri.'

He took Kitty from his pocket and gave it to her.

Mirriam smiled and said quietly, "A Kodak moment."

[Erika]

Erika took kitty, and hugged it and Ben. Hearing Mirriam she smiled, and fell into untroubled sleep in her dad's arms.

[evan..relic]

"Come on. Let's get out of here. Hospitals make me nervous." He said, remembering his days in the Human Army.

"Agreed." Mirriam nodded.

The two of them walked out while one slept, Ben easily checked Erika out of the hospital. Thanks to Malone.

"Don't worry, she'll wake when she smells the ice cream." He said as they approached Erika's favourite ice cream parlour.

[Erika]

'Daddy.' She said sleepily, as she awoke. She smelt the ice cream cones being made, and then the unmistakable scent of the actual ice cream. Yawning, she kissed him on the cheek.

[evan..relic]

Ben laughed and kissed Erika on the cheek, "What do you say Eri? Triple scoop cone with choco sauce on top?"

[Erika]

Erika grumbled a note, and then yawned again. Saying out loud for the first time that day, she said, "Me wanna share with daddy." Holding kitty close, Erika sensed Mirriam, and smiled.

[evan..relic]

"Can't argue with that logic." Ben grinned as he went up to the counter, "Mirriam? Anything for you?"

"Just a vanilla cone."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Thanks anyways Ben."

"Alright." Turning to the counter, he said, "Can I get one triple scoop choco cone with chocolate sauce on top and one vanilla cone, please?"

Within a minute, Ben had the cones in his hands, he handed Mirriam hers as he asked for a bowl, just in case.

[Erika]

Erika wiggled a bit, wanting to be put down. She saw the chocolate ice cream, and made a hand motion to take it. Hearing him order a bowl, she saw a container of spoons and took one.

[evan..relic]

They all sat down at one of the tables, Mirriam started to work away at her cone as Ben lopped some of the chocolate ice cream from the cone into the bowl and gave it to Erika, who he saw had a spoon in her hand.

"Bon appetit." He said with a false accent.

[Erika]

Erika sat next to Ben, on her knees, and at her ice cream. Pausing after her first few bites, she moaned a happy sound, and continued to eat. The cold of the ice cream made her insides feel better.

[evan..relic]

Ben smiled, "Feeling any better Eri?"

Mirriam looked at her watch, "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I have to go. Teacher's meeting. Thanks for the ice cream." She quickly planted a kiss on Ben's cheek and ran out the door. Thankfully before Ben's face went blood red.

[Erika]

Erika smiled, and nodded her answer to Ben. Seeing what Mirriam did, she giggled as Ben's face went blood red. 'She my new mommy yet?' She asked in a happy voice.

[evan..relic]

Ben looked over at Erika, tinges of red lingering on his face, he reached over and tousled her hair 'I have a lot to teach you, kiddo. But, no, not yet... Though I have a plan...' His thoughts trailed off into the region of his mind that Erika couldn't get to.

"Now finish your ice cream, Erika." Ben said out loud as he dug into his own.

[Erika]

Erika giggled, and finished her ice cream, giving herself brain freeze. Once done, she looked at Ben, and smiled. 'Daddy, why are you miles away?' She asked him, when she couldn't hear his thoughts.

[evan..relic]

Shaking his head, he smiled at Erika, a mischievous smile, 'Don't you worry now Eri.' He lapped up the last of the soft ice cream and picked her up, 'Come on, let's head home, tomorrow we'll try again at school...'

[Erika]

Erika made a face but stayed quiet. Laying her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes, but stayed awake.

[evan..relic]

Ben smiled as he kissed her forehead, 'Come on, we're both tired. We need sleep.'

[Erika]

Erika nuzzled his neck, and suddenly licked him. Holding kitty, she licked him again, and outloud said, "Meow."

[evan..relic]

Ben smiled as he gently said, "Woof."

After a little, they returned to their home. Ben put Erika down on the couch as he walked into the kitchen for a drink.

Just then, he noticed a note on the fridge, written in such curly script it made it nigh impossible for him to read, then he saw the name at the end: Mirriam.

Quickly he snatched the note and read through it, "Dear Ben. This is just a quick light-spun note to tell you that I did enjoy the ice cream, thank you. I can't wait to see you and Eri again tomorrow. With love, Mirriam."

Then he saw a postscript, "P.S That kid that was giving Erika trouble the other day was moved to another school at my request as I am the board director's daughter."

Ben laughed, a massive smile broke out on his face, "Eri, don't worry that idiot of a kid isn't at school to bully you anymore and...." His voice trailed off as his mind resided on the words, 'With love...'

[Erika]

Erika was almost asleep when she heard Ben. Getting up and rubbing her eyes, she went to him. Erika heard the thought of With love , and smiled. 'Now she my mommy?' She asked happily, as she felt happiness radiating from him.

[evan..relic]

'No, not yet, but soon...' His thoughts quickly drifted off.

[Erika]

Erika giggled happilly. 'Ok.' She said.

[evan..relic]

'Anyhow,' He picked Erikae up, 'Time for bed, you've got school in the morning.' Ben yawned widely.

[Erika]

Erika groaned. 'Ok.' She said. She knew Ben would make her go to school, even if she didn't want to.

[evan..relic]

Ben shook his head, 'Eri, I didn't like school either. But it was go or I got a leather belt across the back of the head or the behind at any moment. It hurt.' He rubbed the back of his head unconsciously as the memory came back to him.

[Erika]

Erika looked at him, wide eyed. 'You no hit me. right?' She asked, a little scared.

[evan..relic]

'No, I won't. I'm not my father's son, I won't do what he did.' He gave Erika a tight hug.

'Come on, off to bed. We've got a busy day tomorrow.'

[Erika]

Erika nodded, and yawned. Nuzzling into his shoulder, she closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

[evan..relic]

Ben smiled as he gently lay Erika down in her bed, gently kissing her forehead, he said, "Good night."

Walking over to his bed, he lay down without taking his clothes off and immediately fell asleep.

[Erika]

Erika tossed and turned in her bed. Fleeting images of the boy attacking her went through her head, invading her dreams. Her telepathy made her bed, and some furniture in the room shake.

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