KH: Wake up

Posted on Fri May 16th, 2025 @ 7:40pm by Sr Journeyman Rena & Sr Journeyman Bensen

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D30

Bensen yawned as he woke the next morning to the warmth of a body curled against him. A smile touched his lips—he definitely liked waking up like this.

He leaned over and kissed her shoulder, keeping his arm gently over her waist. He could get used to being a family man very easily.

Rena had eventually fallen back asleep and stirred slowly at the change in pressure around her, then at the kiss to her shoulder. She could feel the warmth even through the shirt. She smiled sleepily, realizing the man was properly awake now.

“Morning, Ben,” she whispered.

“Morning,” he said softly. He wasn't sure if she was a morning person or not, so he waited to see if she wanted to talk. Otherwise, he was just as happy staying snuggled against her.

Rena wiggled back against him for a moment, getting more comfortable before she settled down. She found his hand and wove their fingers together.

“Okay?” she asked quietly as she felt Cadance stir and flutter off, disappearing between to find something to do.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Just fine,” he assured her with a smile. “Hope I didn't keep you up.” Bensen had no idea if he snored or talked in his sleep or anything like that.

The woman smiled and slowly shifted back so they were pressed together.

“No, you did not. I’m sorry I woke you in the night.” She hadn’t meant to, but the baby didn’t make sleeping easy sometimes.

“It’s okay,” he assured her. He hadn’t minded at all. “I like waking up like this,” he admitted softly, nuzzling her hair. He could definitely get used to married life.

Rena made a small happy noise at the nuzzle.

“Me too. I’d forgotten how nice it feels to wake up like this,” she admitted, closing her eyes.

Bensen chuckled softly. This was definitely different than anything he’d experienced before. There was just something about being next to Rena.

“It is certainly nice.”

Rena said nothing as she lay there, savoring the feeling of being held again. She’d never forget Oseben, but Bensen was trying so hard to be her husband—and her future.

“It gets nicer,” she promised.

“Nicer than this? I’m quite happy right now,” he said quietly. He couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

The Harper smiled at his words and shook her head.

“Mmmhmm. I’m glad you’re happy right now,” she said, slowly turning in his arms so she was facing him.

Bensen smiled. “Very happy. Are you?” he asked softly. He wasn’t his brother and never wanted to replace him, but he still wanted to make Rena happy.

Rena looked at him and stroked a hand through his hair, shifting it away from his face. The room was dark, lit only by the fire, so it took a moment for her night vision to adjust, but she moved to look him in the eyes.

“Completely,” she assured quietly. She hadn’t thought she would feel so calm and happy—but it was Bensen.

He closed his eyes at her gentle touch. He wasn’t used to people doing that, but he liked her doing it. Bensen nodded with a smile.

“Good. I want you to be happy too.”

“Sorry,” she laughed awkwardly. She used to be free with her touches and affections, and she was trying to be like that again. “I am. I know we can make each other happy if we both try.” She moved her hand to settle on her bump as the other curled under her.

“I don’t doubt that. We’ll figure things out as we go,” he commented softly. He snuggled back down into the pillow as Rena did the same.

Rena nodded quietly and kept her hands to herself as she thought about the situation. She wouldn’t have thought, 48 candlemarks ago, that she’d be lying in Bensen’s bed feeling happy—but here she was. It was awkward, but sweet.

Bensen watched her quietly. “Ready to tell Brenna today?” he asked softly. He still wasn’t sure what the little girl would think—things had taken a big turn.

The Harper shook her head. “Not sure. I quite like being in this little bubble. I don’t want to burst it just yet,” she admitted quietly, with a small smile. Her feelings, she was realizing, were a lot more complicated than she had expected.

The young man smiled as he stayed snuggled against her. “I’m happy staying in this bubble a while longer,” he agreed. He was happy where he was and in no hurry to move.

The woman nodded and grew quiet as she watched him.

“I’m very surprised by how I’m feeling this morning. I’m finding it hard to resist touching you. I didn’t expect to feel like that,” she said, laughing awkwardly.

Bensen raised a brow. He hadn’t expected her to say that—although it made him very happy.

“I like the sound of that,” he admitted, reaching out to gently brush her hair out of her face.

“I know…” Rena answered his raised eyebrow and shrugged a little. “Starved for affection—obviously, though I did it all to myself.” She sighed, trying to rationalize it, as his fingers looped her long hair behind her ear.

“Well, you don’t have to be anymore,” he whispered, leaning over to give her a gentle kiss. “As long as you’ll let me, I’ll never starve you of affection.”

The woman nodded wordlessly as she pulled back from the gentle kiss. She didn’t think this man would starve her of anything—emotional or physical—which was why she kissed him less gently than the ones before.

Bensen couldn’t have been happier. They were off to a good start, and hopefully, they could keep building on that. He laid his head back down, very content to just lie there with her.

“I won’t starve you either,” she finally said. The Harper smiled at him and gently traced a finger across his lips before she leaned forward and kissed him again.

“Thank you,” he smiled. He playfully kissed her fingertips before she leaned in. Shards, he loved her.

Rena’s confession of feeling starved for affection—and him telling her that it would never be a thing—was doing things to her heart. It made it thump rapidly, threatening to burst out of her chest as she continued to kiss him.

Bensen moaned softly against her lips. This was not what he’d expected for this morning. Of course, he hadn’t wanted to rush her—and it had honestly been a while for him as well—but this felt different than anything he’d experienced.

Rena eventually pulled back, breathless and surprised by the intensity.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, moving her hand from where she had been holding him close.

The young man was breathless and flushed. He shook his head.

“No reason to apologize,” he said gently. “We’re married—and I enjoyed it.”

“I really enjoyed that too,” she whispered, biting her lip as she looked at him, studying the older man carefully. There was tension between them, and Rena wasn’t sure whether she was ready to break it or not.

Bensen gave her a gentle smile. It would take time, but he had no doubt they would make it. They had been friends, after all, and that wasn’t going to change.

“I… I…” the woman began, but there was a sudden knock at the door, and the moment was broken by the soft voice of Senabena.

“Brother, if you’ve stashed your wife in there, I’ve brought her some clothes,” she said in a low voice, opening the door just enough to drop several items on the floor before closing it again.

Rena collapsed back into pearls of laughter.

Bensen froze at the knock, then joined Rena in her laughter. He could only imagine what his sister was thinking. At least it had been Senabena who’d shown up.

“What she must think of me,” the woman whispered, burying her face in his shoulder, not sure what emotion she should be feeling after the last 48 candlemarks.

“That you’re my wife and we shared a bed last night?” he asked. “I’m sure she’ll tease us later.”

Rena pulled her face back and sighed. He was right.

“But it’s… I guess so.” Rena had a lot to wrap her head around—but more importantly, it was okay to feel the way she did toward Bensen. She didn’t need to feel embarrassed or ashamed.

“I know. It’s very new,” he agreed. “I think Sen will tease us because I forgot to find her for the wedding,” he admitted. It had been a bad oversight on his part.

“Not just your error. It was mine too,” Rena sighed and rolled onto her back for a moment before slowly sitting up. She rubbed her stomach as the baby kicked hard, repeatedly, just under her rib.

Bensen propped himself up on an elbow. “You okay?” he asked gently as she rubbed her stomach. He didn’t know much about pregnancy, if he was honest.

She turned a little to see his concerned face and quickly nodded, not wanting him to worry when it was all normal.

“Yeah. Baby’s kicking a rib—repeatedly,” she admitted, wincing a little as she stood awkwardly, pulling the shirt down to cover herself where it had ridden up during the night.

“That sounds painful,” he admitted. Shards, how did women put up with that? “Anything I can do to help?” He kind of figured he couldn’t, but he wanted to at least offer.

“No—other than don’t laugh if I waddle a little bit,” she joked, turning to see him still lying in bed. Her awkward look softened. “It’s not so bad. Turn that frown upside down,” Rena assured him quietly.

“I would never laugh,” he promised, giving her a smile. Bensen pushed himself up, knowing if they didn’t get moving, Senabena might come back and physically haul them out. “But please tell me if I can ever do anything.”

“I will—and I’m sure there will be many things you can help with eventually.” She watched him carefully before shaking herself back to the present. “I’ll, um… get ready in the bathing chamber, and then pack up to return to Far Site,” she said, moving to grab the dresses Senabena had dropped inside the door. She really did owe her sister-in-law a lot.

Bensen was going to argue, but she already had the dresses scooped up and was disappearing. He knew it would take some time before they were ready to change in front of each other.