Even though Benjy had asked Emmeline not to be worried, it didn’t stop her from being on edge while he was away on a mission. During their time in the Order together there had always been a certain level of anxiety and uncertainty for all of them. It was a dangerous time and as Emmeline lived through, no one was sure who would come back home alive. When Emmeline was on missions with Benjy, she obviously worried less but as their relationship grew, despite her fighting it, she started to become a little more uneasy.
Then of course the night came when she was told that Benjy had been killed. It had been one of her worst nightmares coming true. It’s easy to assume that waiting for Benjy to get back from his first Atlantis mission was not an easy one. During the day she was able to keep herself busy with this and that but at night? It was more difficult. It took her longer to get to sleep and one of the nights she had a nightmare. She felt the urge to try and contact him about it but she didn’t want him to worry or to feel like he had to return. Emmeline was strong and she could get through this fear. Not only that but she had to remind herself to trust Benjy’s capability. He was talented and knew that he’d be alright.
Currently she had been sitting in her place, knowing they should be coming back sometime today. Emmeline didn’t want to take up too much of his time because with Frank arriving, she’d want to give the best friends some time.
As soon as Benjy had arrived back on shore, he helped unload the boat (and he did it efficiently, making good use of his wand and a few charmed brooms for amusements’ sake) and then said goodbye to his team. He knew that Frank was waiting for him -- but he had someone he needed to see first. With a quick text he announced his intention (on my way to you now) and waved his wand. He vanished with Disapparition’s tell-tale pop.
Salt-spray and sun had tanned him, he looked less the bookworm and a little more devil-may-care, as if this first foray into missions for Atlantis meant that he was getting his legs beneath him here. But that all disappeared as soon as he opened the door. Emmeline’s face caused him to melt. He took three large steps and knelt by her chair, reaching forward to draw her into a kiss.
It might have been melodramatic. But that was how he felt … in love, dramatic, a little heroic, and brave. “Sweetheart,” he murmured.
Had Emmeline been nervous? For a moment she seemed to have forgotten everything else as the two embraced. He smelled and tasted like the ocean, not that she’d complain. A calm wave took over, her shoulders relaxed and she felt more at ease than she had in the past few days. Even if she had been worried the time away treated him well. Emmeline liked the bookworm but this certainly worked too. She grinned in between the kisses.
“Welcome home,” she said. This moment feeling natural for her. She had once told Remus that she wasn’t sure if she’d get used to it but day by day it was becoming easier. Benjy was here and that meant the two of them had a real chance. “How was Ponyville?”
Benjy’s thumb eased across her jaw and he smiled back, before hooking himself an ottoman to sit on so that he could stay close, warmed up by Emmeline’s presence. “You mean, the part where I was tiny and stuck in a tiny snowglobe until Ray got us all thinking good thoughts? Oh, I don’t know, love.”
He waited a beat. “It was pretty bloody fantastic, especially the sea horses bit. They suggested I take up sailing but steer clear of the piracy.”
“Really?” Certainly wasn’t what she expected the missions in Atlantis were sometimes extremely odd. “I hope no one tried to shake it.” That could have been a disaster. “So you had to think good thoughts, huh?” It reminded her of Peter Pan, one of the few muggle stories that she grew up with as a kid. It might have been associated with someone she didn’t care to think about anymore, but it was a good story all the same.
“That’s not a bad idea. It’d be nice to get a boat, take some time away from the island.” She gave him a small thoughtful smile. “Just the two of us, away from everything else.” It hadn’t just been the fact that Benjy was away on the mission. With so many people coming through, the stories she’d heard about the last time something like this happened, it made her incredibly uneasy. “I’d get to see you in action and I don’t know.” She leaned forward and kissed his jawline. “I think you’d make a sexy pirate.”
“We’re all very glad ponies don’t possess opposable thumbs,” he quipped and leaned his elbow on the arm of her chair. “Otherwise that’d be a very real risk!”
But his story was stoppered by her next actions; he drew in a breath, tangling his fingertips at the nape of her neck. He smiled. “I’m in for the seven seas, so long as you’re the captain.”
“Mm.” Emmeline hummed. Her head tilted slightly with amusement. “I think I like the sound of that.” She turned her head to check the time before looking back to Benjy. Her fingers traced along his chest. “Think you can manage being a little late meeting Frank?”
“Sweetheart, your wish is my command.” He pulled her close for a kiss, letting himself understand just how thoroughly he’d missed her by taking his sweet time. When he sat back, he smiled.
“Catch me up on things? Or don’t. I can certainly think of more exciting things than pleasant chatting …”