Havenwood, NY

Her words ripped a laugh from those very lips that hers ghosted before the sound abruptly halted, his ribs protesting the movement. A noise of pain replaced the laugh—Why did she have to make him laugh?!—yet a grin mixed with a pained expression still remained on his face.

"I'm going to hold you to that, Rug Rat," he quipped back as Ben painstakingly settled back upon the bed.

Winded slightly from the effort, he lay there a moment with his eyes closed and once again regretting the events that got him into this situation. Seeing Zee again, though, would never be among those regrets. Opening his eyes, they turned upon the weretiger when he caught his breath, his expression soft and a little anxious.

"Will you stay?" He murmured, "At least until I fall asleep again?"

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Despite the apology, despite his understanding of Anya's reason for her threat that loomed in the room, Ben could not relax until she left it. Still, his attention lingered on the doorway she had retreated through until Zee's voice cut through the tension and his gaze shifted to the weretiger. This time when he smiled, there was notably more warmth to it than the one he'd given Anya.

"No," he said with a slight chuckle and shake of his head, "No, with a weeks bedrest and a couple more taking it easy, I'll be fine." He glanced toward the doorway one more time before focusing on Zee again.

"Your mom and I just… came to an understanding with one another." Ben couldn't blame Anya one bit for her reaction. If the situation had been different, if Zee had disappeared or they'd been lead to believe she was dead, just like Ben, and she suddenly came crashing through their door… His own mother would likely find it suspicious and he had no doubt that she would say anything to Zee to ensure the safety of her sons. That's what mothers who loved their children did.

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