FSH Closer

Posted on Mon Aug 4th, 2025 @ 7:54pm by Sr Journeyman Rena & Sr Journeyman Bensen

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Far Site Hold
Timeline: M3 D12

Rena knew that Bensen was going to be later than normal as he needed to go back for hide work so the Harper set about organising the family living area better by putting items in places that she presumed would be okay from her limited time spent in Bensen’s rooms. He needed the desk area more than she did as she had her classroom and the communal harper space if she wanted to do work.

But it was the bedroom where she got unsure when she started to roll up clothing into shared spaces she realised that she was finally sharing a space again with someone again.

Bensen scrubbed at his face as he finished sorting through another round of hides. He was pretty sure he was starting to go cross eyed. he finally slid the hides away knowing he wasn't making any progress. He would just have to redo everything.

He finally got up from his desk, deciding it was time to check on his family. Bensen headed toward their new shared room. It still felt odd but he was happy. “Ren?” He asked, stepping into the rooms.

Rena looked up at the soft voice in the living area and confusion and smiled. “Bed… bedroom.” She called hoping it was loud enough to be heard but not loud enough to wake the exhausted 3 year old spending the first night in her new bigger bedroom. It would be strange to have a separate living area from the main bedroom but she had to admit it was nice having a little more privacy from her young child.

Bensen barely heard the call but he made his way toward their room, figuring there was a reason she was being quiet. A smile touched his lips when he saw her putting things away. “Keeping busy?” He asked.

“Trying to organise a little. I did not want to just go to sleep with clothes and stuff all other the place” She admitted watching him walk to her, stepping around the things that were scattered in their bedroom. If the mess bothered him, he wasn’t showing it, she hoped he knew that she would tidy up the room in time and life would return to normal soon enough.

“I see that. I don't know about you but I never” realized how much I had until we were moving it,” he admitted. How had he accumulated so much stuff? Bensen sat on the bed beside her. “Besides trying to get things organized how was your day?”“

“I think because I have travelled from my home and my bedroom had not been the same place for 25 years I have not collected much here but I did understand.” She smiled as she stood to hang one of his shirts up alongside one of her formal dresses. “Busy. After I left you both I just set about our evening meal, getting Brenna in the bath and to bed.” It had been a struggle and she had gotten wet in the process which was evident on the shirt she still wore.

“Hmm I hadn't considered that,” he answered. He had been there his whole life so he had certainly collected more than he needed. Bensen listened to her day or rather evening. “That is a lot. I am guessing little Brenna didn't want a bath?” He asked, seeing her shirt.

Rena looked down at her shirt and blushed a little as she did not realise how it clung to her. She looked up and smiled a little despite the blush on her cheeks. “Yes. She was very reluctant to have a bath despite the mud in her hair. How about you?” She wondered quietly

He chuckled softly. Brenna definitely hadn't wanted that bath. “I think you got a bath with her,” he commented. Bensen shrugged a shoulder. “Hide work. Lots and lots of hide work,” he answered.

“I am pretty sure I did.” She said, smiling a little more as she hung more clothes. She stopped as she noticed how rundown he looked from hides and possibly just generally. “You look like you need to unwind from all that hide work.” She wondered holding out a hand to him.

Bensen smiled tiredly. “If only we realized how good baths felt when we were children,” he chuckled. He remembered fighting a bath as a youngster as well. “A bit yes,” he agreed, taking her hand.

“How about we go in our bathroom, and make use of that large bath?” She wondered softly, tugging him to his feet. The bigger bath had been a surprise that she had not known about that Nabon had joked that he barely used and that he hoped the woman enjoyed. “You can bring a glass of wine, and we could talk, spend time together…” She blushed a little at the suggestion but she wanted to offer.

Bensen was surprised but happy at the offer. “I would like that,” he agreed. “We didn't get a chance to talk much today and having some time to relax with you sounds like the perfect way to end a day.” He chuckled as she pulled him to his feet.

“If you are not too tired.” She knew he had been working a lot harder than normal trying to make up for Oseben’s absence both in Hold business and in her and Brenna’s lives. “Why waste that big bath.” She admitted with a small shy smile. It was a lovely idea, one that she had considered having alone but having him in it would definitely be more interesting as they needed to try and get comfortable with each other.

“Nah I'm good for a bit longer,” he assured her. It would be nice to relax and unwind with his wife. That thought still made him smile. “As long as you're okay with it,” he smiled. He wanted to make sure Rena was good with it too. They were still learning after all.

“I am. It will be awkward but … How about you start it and I will check on Brenna and find something that makes bubbles.” She said with another smile for him as she started towards the living area to have a quick glance though at Brenna and check that Cadence was with her for now.

Bensen nodded. “I can do that,” he answered. He knew it would be awkward but they had to try. He squeezed her hand gently before heading for the bathing room to get the water started.b

She grabbed up a glass of wine for him and the bottles of bubbles she kept for moments like this. She really just wanted to have him close to her for a bit, without tension, without self-consciousness, as the bubbles would hide most of what was under the surface of the water. “Hello.” She said smiling as she joined him in the bathing chamber.

He turned from adjusting everything to the right settings and warmth. “Hey there. Bre still sleeping?” He asked, standing back up. He walked over to help her with everything she had brought in.

”She is and I suspect she will sleep a while as she’s had a busy day. Just like us both.” She said let him take the glass of wine but she kept the bottle with something to make bubbles in. In the coming days a spattering of stuff would start to loiter on every shelf, hook and surface; from bottles, containers, tubes of various shapes, sizes and applications but for now it was bare.

The woman turned and shifted the glows from fully on over in their baskets to something a little less overpowering, it cast the room into something a little more romantic. “No need to blind us with all the bare space.” The woman said with a smile as she started to undo the wet shirt, tossing it back into the bedroom before she closed the door, leaving them alone in the space.

He chuckled. “Glad she is sleeping. Yes, it has been a long day.” He definitely couldn't argue there. Although if every day ended like this he definitely wasn't going to complain.

Bensen nodded. “Very good idea,” he agreed, surprised by how the dimming glow really set the mood. He left the bubbles bottle with her as he started to undo his own shirt.

She knew he had not seen her without a shirt on before and just in a chest band but she did not stay looking at him to see his reaction. The woman was trying, she was trying to respond to the butterflies he created in her stomach with gentle touches and soft kisses. “Also you do not need to be blinded by my paleness and huge bump.” She said teasing just a little running her hands along the bath. She poured the bubbles through the running water checking the temperature so no one got burnt.

Bensen smiled. She was beautiful but he knew this was still awkward so slow it would be. He chuckled. “You're not that pale,” he teased back. “And you only seem to glow thanks to that little one you’re carrying.”

Rena slowly turned and looked up at him. “I am very pale compared to most southerners. But going outside is changing that.” She said, The light being lower would have made them relax more.

He gave her a smile. “We'll get you tanned up in no time,” he grinned. He soon slipped his shirt off and dropped it on the floor. “Water warm enough for you?”

She was sure that they would with the way he was getting her out of the Hold daily. It was making her healthier again and not quite as full. “It is good. You won’t burn either.” The woman teased watching his slip out his shirt. She had seen him out a shirt but like this it was different and far more intimate.

“Oh good. I would hate for either of us to get burned,” he grinned. Well here went nothing. they had one last barrier to slip out of before getting in the bath. Were they ready for this step? He hoped so.

“Would not be as nice.” She soothed. The woman turned away, turning off the taps and shimmed out of her skirt letting it full to the floor leaving her just in her underwear now. It showed off the bruises that Thunder caused.

Bensen cringed when he saw the bruises. “Are those from Thunder?” He asked softly, stepping up beside her to gently touch the bruises. That sharding runner.

“I bruise easily.” She assured softly as he touched her side then arm. “But yes unless you think I go throwing myself on the ground often.” She smiled up at him. He was so much taller than Oseben but she was starting to get used to it.

“I doubt you do that,” he answered. “That runner definitely needs to calm down a bit. You are okay though?” He was still worried about her. The bruises looked nasty. “I am sure the warm bath will help.”

“Of course I am okay. It does not hurt to much. But I do really bruise easy Ben.” She whispered looking at the man and his fingers still checking her bruises. She touched his cheek making him look at her.

He slowly looked up at the touch on his cheek. “Alright. As long as you are sure.” He didn't like seeing her hurt. Bensen finally smiled again once he was sure she was okay.

“I am. I have a high pain threshold too but it barely hurts.” Rena assured smiling at him, relaxing a little as his hand spread out and held her waist. She grinned enjoying the smile on his face. ”We are alone, in a bathing chamber and you are worrying about something that we can not change.”

He chuckled a bit. “Seems that way,” he agreed. “Guess we will have to fix that,” he grinned, kissing her neck. “Shall we enjoy the bath before it gets cold?” He suggested, leading her over.

She let herself be pulled closer, she loved being this close to this man, he was gorgeous, to say the least as well. She knew he would be good to her, she just hoped she was going to be good for him as well. “Okay then. Go get in the bath. I'll be there in a second.” She whispered, pressing a kiss to his shoulder as she was only just able to reach there as she stepped back and started to remove her remaining clothes.

He was reluctant to move away from her. He knew she was still grieving but he did truly love her and wanted what was best for her. “Alright, ” he finally agreed, letting her go. He backed away from her and turned to finish undressing before sliding into the warm water.

“I’m not uneasy, just nervous. This is a step in my head that… well… no going back from really. You’ll see all of me.” She said aloud realising just how big a step this was in her mind with this man. She didn’t blush as she wasn’t embarrassed at all. He hadn’t seen her naked yet and she was pretty sure that it didn’t matter to him but it was something that there was no going back from.

Bensen considered her words. That wasn't something that had really crossed his mind but he could sort of understand her concern. “It is a big step,” he agreed gently, bubbles floating around him in the tub. “Shall I turn away while you join me in the water?” He half teased, half offered.

“No, because I need your hands to help me.” She laughed. With his legs spread so that she could come and sit between them, She watched as he held out his hands to offer her support. She slowly took the offered hand keeping her gaze on his face to relax and moved to sit in the bath in front of him. She froze for a second as his hand gently set on her hips to guide her down.

He gave her a smile. “Okay no turning away,” he laughed, carefully helping her into the tub. His eyes were dancing as he helped her sit. This was a big step for both of them, but he thought they would get through it. “Beautiful,” he assured her once he was sure she settled.

Yes, they had hugged a few times in bed when he had just been wearing trousers and her a shirt but this felt completely different and so much more intimate than any of those occasions. Maybe it was because she was naked herself and there was nothing between them that she felt almost vulnerable at how different this felt. “Thank you.” She whispered turning a little to look at him.

Bensen reached over and gently brushed some hair behind her ear. This was as close as they had come to intimacy. it was something he wasn't ever going to push and right now showed why. He loved her and wanted her to care about him on her own not because she was forced to.

“I should have put my hair up.” She conceded with another shy smile before she turned back around and looked forward trying to will her muscles to relax a little more than the warm water was already doing. She was safe, nothing was going to happen unless she wanted to and right then and there she was pretty sure she did want something to make her feel alive properly. It wasn't hard to miss that there was an attraction between them at all, he was a very easy guy to fall for.

“I like you with your hair down,” he said softly. “And the way the steam makes your hair curl is beautiful.” He loved everything about her. He had always been very good friends with Rena but now he could see his feelings ran much deeper. He would only go as far as she wanted to.

The woman laughed a little as she finally leaned back against him resting against his chest. Her hand leaned out to grab his wine glass and put it within his reach. “Thank you. Not so bad yourself.” She murmured.

He gently ran his hand up her arm. “Well thank you,” he grinned, reaching up to take his wine glass. “This is nice.”

“It is. Thank you for agreeing.” She whispered at the way his hand ran up her arm. She gathered hair and tossed it over her shoulder to keep it out of his face, mainly, but also out of his way. She was considering cutting it shorter again but who knew.

“Of course. There is no where I would rather be,” he whispered, kissing her neck and trailing his kisses to her shoulder. “Thank you for taking a chance on me.”

Rena knew with her young child and another on the way the life that this man had known would change but he seemed to be taking it all in his stride. Moments like this would be precious to her. “How could I not take a chance?” She asked as she shivered at the soft kiss on her shoulder.

He had been worried that she would turn him down. She had every right too, but thankfully she had chosen to take that chance on him. “This is perfect,” he whispered against her neck.

“It is. I feel good.” She felt better than she had in months physically and mentally. She would be a fool to think she couldn’t have become attracted to this man. He was handsome, kind and had the biggest heart she knew.

“I’m glad to hear that. You have had a lot to go through.” He had lost his brother but she had lost her husband along with putting her future back into question as she was carrying Oseben’s second child. He playfully nudged her neck with his nose. “I certainly can get used to this,” he smiled.

The woman shifted a little to lay her head back on his chest and look up at him. “I’m not going anywhere.” She quickly assured and lifted her hand to touch his face. “I am right here.”

Bensen gave her a smile. “I’m glad to hear that,” he whispered. He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind that he loved her. “I don't want you anywhere else.”

Rena swallowed at the way he sounded and the words he said unable to express her own feelings properly for a moment. Her brain was stuck on how lucky she was. She turned more to look up at him kissing first his chin and then his lips softly. The woman smiled softly and kissed the end of his nose in a loving gesture, one that spoke of how much she was enjoying the moment they were sharing even if she didn’t have the words to express the emotions.

He leaned into her gentle kiss. Sometimes words weren't needed and this was one of those times. Bensen couldn't believe they were in this position but he was so happy to be here with his wife. His hand trailed back down her leg, loving having her close.

Would she be bold enough to let him know that she was ready and felt desire to push their relationship forward beyond this? Or had she been as bold as she could manage? She was not sure but she let out a soft noise as his hand tailed down her leg making her turn a little more into him.

“Ren?” He asked softly against her shoulder. “Are you sure?” He didn't want to misread her soft noises and movements. Not when they were on a good path, one he didn’t want to lose.

He wanted her as his wife, had made the choice to marry , to build a family with her, that had to count for something. It wasn’t just a temporary marriage to allow her time to get herself to get herself together and have the baby. Gently she caressed his cheek before she pulled back herself not even noticing that there were barely any bubbles left covering them. “I am kissing you aren’t I?” She replied.

Bensen gave her a gentle smile at her touch. “You are,” he agreed, leaning up to kiss her again. He had just wanted to make sure before they went any further. He didn't want to ruin what they were building because of his needs.

The woman let out a soft noise at the intensity of the kiss and realised this was the last man she ever wanted to love or be loved by especially when he kissed her like that. There was so much you could tell from a kiss especially when his hand trailed her leg.