A Night In

[singingdrummer]

 It all started with Ben tugging Meredith onto his lap, lips pressed against hers in a heated kiss. His hands roamed on her figure while his desire for her grew. He had wanted her ever since their first encounter at the bar but Ben never imagined something would actually become of it.

"I want you to know you're not some groupie to me, Meredith. I really want this with you."

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[highfidelity]

She smiled at that and packed her bags. Once she'd finished with breakfast and was ready to leave she walked back into the bedroom looking for him.

"I'll see you later," she said. "Try not to work too hard."

And against her better instincts, she leaned in and kissed him goodbye before she walked out the door. It was a reflex from their past relationship and she didn't even realize she'd done it until she left.

[singingdrummer]

"Likewise."

The kiss surprised him too. He stood there processing it for a moment before going in for that shower. It'd stay on his mind while he worked on his song ideas and while he cooked the surprise meal.

[highfidelity]

Meredith made it home about fifteen minutes early, glad to be there. She hung up her coat and set her bag down with a sigh. She loved her job when it involved actually being out in music venues or studios, but when it was just sitting round the office it felt like it was sucking out her soul. And she probably looked like it too.

"Ben?" she called. "Are you in here somewhere?"

Because she honestly wasn't sure he would be.

[singingdrummer]

Ben surfaced from the kitchen, wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

"Hey. Just in time, the food's ready. Made some chicken pasta."

He gestured her to the table that was all set, along with some wine.

"You look a little worn out. How was work?"

[highfidelity]

"I am a little worn out. Work is just...agh, it gets to me sometimes."

She admitted, kicking her shoes off before she followed him to the table. It was very sweet that he'd done all this for her. Again she entertained the idea of them building a life together. If he'd want to settle down and be this domestic.

"How was your day?"

[singingdrummer]

"All the more reason to relax and enjoy tonight."

He poured her some wine before taking his seat. He could imagine himself doing things like this more often, surprising Meredith after a long work day.

"It was fine. Worked on some ideas and planned tonight."

[highfidelity]

She nodded slightly. As much as she wanted to repair their broken relationship, she also felt like she had a duty to look out for him, and make sure his life got back on track regardless of whether or not their relationship worked out.

"Good," she said encouragingly. "I want you to have a second chance in all this. I know I don't have a ton to offer you, but I'll do what I can."

[singingdrummer]

"I appreciate everything you're doing, Meredith. You had every right to kick me out, but you gave me another chance. I'll make it all worth it."

They'll be taking slow steps, but Ben would avoid making the same mistakes this time around. No more near death experiences.

[highfidelity]

"Actually I guess we're already doing better than we were before in that sense," she chuckled as they started eating. "I wasn't going to ask you to move in with me after one date!"

[singingdrummer]

"That's true. We've taken a big step forward here," he laughed softly.

Ben surprised himself with how well the food turned out. He did cook it with love.

[highfidelity]

"Well, I appreciate you doing this for me," she continued. Then something else hit her. "Do we need to go somewhere and get the rest of your stuff? Maybe take you by the mall? I don't know how much you needed to bring over..."

They'd learn very quickly if their relationship had a future because they'd have to do things like this. Cooking, shopping, learning how to exist in the same space. It was the basic stuff that would either solidify their relationship or prove they did not have a future together.

[singingdrummer]

"I'll be happy to do it again. Anytime." And he meant it, too.

"I've got some of it here. At a mate's house.. Don't have furniture or anything like that, because a rock star was always on the move."

This would be a crucial time for them, finding out if they really had a future together.

[highfidelity]

"I'm not convinced you ever had furniture. I only saw a couch and a bed," she teased. "But we should get the rest of your things. And pick up whatever it is you still need. If you're really going to live here, I at least need to make sure you have all your stuff."

[singingdrummer]

"The couch and bed at our special place, yeah," he laughed softly. He nodded at her words. There were some little things he could bring over, and stuff he needed to buy.

"That's the plan."

[highfidelity]

"Then I'll try to make some time tomorrow to go out for a few hours." She nodded and ran a hand through her hair. If only she could get through work. She just felt like her life was in a rut and maybe him being here would liven that up, as much as it was also a huge change. "You're just lucky I'm not still mad at you, if your whole plan was dependent on me!"

[singingdrummer]

"Sounds good to me. It'll be nice getting out of the house."

He could see the stress in her eyes and heard it in her voice. Hopefully he could do something to take some of that load off her shoulders.

"The plan was to come back and make sure I was completely honest with you. To build a solo career for myself, away from all that unhealthy stuff.."

He grinned a little.

"You're not mad?"

[highfidelity]

"No. Well, I have a few things I still need to work through, but I'm not angry with you. You've seen me angry with you," she said with a dry chuckle. "I moved past that stage of the process a long time ago."

[singingdrummer]

"Yeah.. Of course, Meredith."

There's a time for jokes and this certainly was not it. His mouth sometimes worked faster than his brain.

"I'll work hard to be worthy of your trust again. I broke it in a horrible way."

[highfidelity]

"We'll work on that. We have to, if we're going to be living together."

She nodded as she reached across the table and took his hand.

"You're still the only one I want, Ben. I just have to learn to get there. But I'm not interested in anyone else but you."

[singingdrummer]

He nodded, squeezing her hand gently.

"You're the only one I want too, Meredith. I've never been more sure of anything."

[highfidelity]

"Then I guess we're stuck with one another."

She chuckled as they ate, just catching each other up on how their days were. It was easy, simple, uncomplicated. She liked uncomplicated. Liked the idea of them having a future together.

"So. I got you a key on my way home from work."

[singingdrummer]

"Looks like we are."

He grinned a little. It's always nice hearing about her work and what else she was up to during the day, while giving her a few tidbits about his day.

"Oh? Great. I can go out tomorrow and get the ball rolling with my own career."

[highfidelity]

"You thought I was just going to leave you stuck here?"

She chuckled at his apparent surprise, even as she reached into her purse and handed him the key. It was a major show of trust on her part. She would never have done this before, too worried that one of his many friends would show up and trash the place or start going through her stuff.

"If we're going to try and live together we have to start building that life somewhere. And unfortunately I don't think I could find another flat, so this is it for the time being."

[singingdrummer]

"No."

He laughed, shaking his head. He took the key while appreciating the meaning behind it. If it was two months earlier he wouldn't have been worthy of such trust.

"It's really not that bad here, Meredith. A nice little flat for the pair of us."

[highfidelity]

"I know it's not bad, it's just the size. With the size of the bed, and the bathroom, it's going to be a little interesting with two of us."

She chuckled as she stood and picked up the dishes. Since he'd cooked the least she could do was clean up afterward.

"I was almost laying on you last night."