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Everything about this felt right, even though his life was practically falling apart nothing could top being in this room with Ben. Sunday morning Ben wakes up in Mackie's arms, after a night of kissing and talking they just fell asleep cuddling.

Ben hasn't been this happy in a while everything was starting to wash away now, the guilt he feels for what he did to Jenny, his weird attachment to Jeremy, and anything else that was preventing him from giving Mackie a chance. Quietly sneaking out of bed to not wake Mackie up, Ben leaves his room heading for the bathroom to clean up before the boy wakes up.

After brushing his teeth he leaves the bathroom and is immediately stopped by his mom, "good morning."

"Morning" Ben answers,

"Dad and I are leaving for church, Sure you don't want to join us?"

"Nope, I'm good but you guys have fun."

"Okay, don't stay in your room all day."

"I won't," he walks away heading back to his room. Trying to sneak back in fails because as soon as he walks in he sees Mackie's eyes opened and staring at him walking in the door, "good morning" Ben whispers smiling.

"Hey" Mackie smiles back, "was that your mom?"

Ben nods "they're leaving right now for church," he walks over to the bed climbing in next to Mackie.

"Church?"

"Yeah they love church"

"What about you? Do you love church?"

"No" he shakes his head chuckling, "and not because I don't believe, it's just like do I seriously have to sit here for five hours because I'd rather die." Mackie laughs "what about you?"

"Um never been religious I mean I think my parents went to church a couple times, but my thing with the whole idea is like, how am I supposed to believe something that's not there, you know? I've seen people work so hard for something, then credit all of that hard work and achievement to some higher power they've never seen, I don't know it's weird to me." Ben listens to every word

"I think for some it's just about the hope, everyone needs something to believe in. What's better than believing in something that you're not sure about which tests your faith." Smiling Mackie pulls Ben closer to his chest, "what?" Ben notices his smile

"Most people would just argue with me about it and tell me how wrong I am."

"Oh" Ben lays his head on Mackie's shoulder, "I won't, your opinions are valid here." Their faces are turned to each other's and Mackie reaches close softly wrapping his lips around Ben's, as they lay there kissing Mackie's phone starts to vibrate on the nightstand. He knows who it is so he ignores it and gives Ben all of his attention, they lay there in silence gently caressing each other, planting light kisses here and there.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Mackie asks randomly

"And go where?"

"I know a diner that makes great breakfast,"

"Ok" Ben agrees and they get out of bed. Putting their shoes on Mackie picks up his jacket and they leave. "Still can't believe you got such an old car running so great," Ben comments as Mackie drives the comet.

"Technically we did it,"

Ben scoffs "yeah I was so helpful turning the key,"

"Not just that, working in the garage most of the guys there don't really talk to me I think it's probably because I'm young, but I liked your company. When you're around me you make me want to do my best." Mackie said everything with his eyes facing the road, he can't see how much Ben is staring. Ben's smile disappears as Mackie speaks, looking over at the quiet boy sitting next to him Mackie asks, "did I say something wrong?"

"Do you ever say anything wrong?" Mackie chuckles at the question "I'm serious because all I ever do is say the wrong things, especially to you and yet somehow saying and doing things like that comes so easy for you. I don't get it"

"There's nothing to get, Ben." Taking his right hand off the wheel he places it open in Ben's lap, staring down at it Ben slowly brings his hand towards the one sitting opened in his lap. Intertwining his fingers between Mackie's he continues to look down at the hand holding his. "I like you," Mackie says

Turning to him Ben looks at the smile on his face "I really like you, Mackie."

Bringing Ben's hand up to his face as he's holding it Mackie kisses it, "then that's it, right?" He turns to Ben who nods "ok."

The more real this became the more it scared Ben, nothing he had with Jeremy was ever this real, and Mackie's being vulnerable and trusting him, so what if he messes up? Ben's known for messing up and with this one, if he isn't treading lightly, something could go terribly wrong.

Getting to the diner Mackie parks and Ben looks around confused by where it's located, "isn't Denver Auto like down the street from here?" He asks as they're walking in

"Yeah we come here a lot for lunch, but it's morning so no one's coming here yet."

"Hey, Mack"

"Morning, Greta" they stop in front of the check-in stand.

"It's early for your break."

"I'm not working today, just getting breakfast with a friend. Can we get a booth by the window, please?"

"Sure Hon follow me," they walk behind the waitress carrying the menus, sliding on opposite sides of the booth Mackie and Ben sit down. "All right here you are, any drinks to start?" She takes out her notepad

"Yes some coffee please," Mackie requests

And she turns to Ben "water with lemon, thank you."

"Coming right up" she walks away.

"This place makes the best pancakes" Mackie comments as they're staring at their menus, "do you know what you want?"

"Yeah the spinach omelet sounds good,"

"Oh my god" Mackie shakes his head, "spinach omelet? What's next a side of turkey bacon?"

"I love turkey bacon,"

"This was a mistake" he jokes making Ben laugh.

As they continue to scan the menu Greta walks back to the table with their drinks, "ready to order?" She asks

"Yeah, can I get a short stack with normal bacon, please?" He stares at Ben as he says normal bacon.

"Sure, what about you?" She looks at Ben

"Spinach omelet with-"

"Oh fuck" Greta and Ben hear and turn to Mackie, "my mom's coming" he hints to the window and Ben turns to see a woman walking towards the entrance.

She walks in and looks over at the booth where Ben and Mackie are, with Greta standing there taking their order. "Hey Greta mind giving me a second with my son?" She nods walking away "what the hell were you thinking?" She stands at the table looking down at Mackie

"How'd you know I was here?"

"Doesn't matter, I spent all night worried sick and you wouldn't answer your phone."

"What does it matter mom?"

"You're my son!" She raises her voice causing everyone to turn to them and Ben quietly sits there in the middle feeling awkward. "Outside now" she demands

"Ma I'm-" he points to Ben,

"I don't care get up," she walks away expecting Mackie to follow.

Looking at Ben's worried face "I'm sorry," he gets up following his mom out.

As soon as Mackie steps foot outside the diner, "you are not allowed to spend nights out and not tell anyone about it, what if something happened to you?"

"Mom, I know how to take care of myself."

"That's not what I'm saying, Mackenzie! The least you could've done was answer your phone."

"Why didn't you say anything yesterday? Why did you let dad and Harley treat me like that?"

Surprised by the questions his mom doesn't know how to answer, " it- it felt like something you had to handle I didn't know what to say."

"Dad's never going to accept this, you know that right?"

"You don't know that, Ken"

"He called me unnatural ma!" Mackie barks upset

"Maybe you should've came out sooner, giving them more time to understand."

"What?!" Mackie's having a hard time not raising his voice in the diner parking lot, and Ben is getting the perfect view of the entire argument as he sits there watching them. "You told me to take my time, remember? Only do it when you're sure you're ready, that's what you said!"

"Yeah but that was over a year ago! I didn't expect you to take this long but I didn't want to rush you."

"That doesn't look good," Greta walks over to the table commenting seeing them as Ben watches.

"No it doesn't" Ben sighs looking up at Greta, seeing the worried look on her face Ben connects the dots. "You called her, didn't you?" He asks trying to make sense of why Mackie's mom would just show up

"She stopped by early this morning and asked if I saw him to let her know, she seemed worried so..." Greta explain. "Did something happen?" Ben ignores the question turning to look at Mackie and his mom arguing.

"What am I supposed to do, ma?"

"Come home and give your dad and brother some time, they'll get used to it."

"What if they don't?"

"they're your family Ken, they will." Taking a second Mackie looks over at the window and sees Ben staring at him, "who's he?"

"Ben," Mackie answers.

"The one with the pool?" Mackie nods, "Harley didn't freak him out?"

Shaking his head, "he was the guy I made the purple helmet for."

Mackie and his mom look at each other, "can I meet him?"

"Don't you have to get back to the shop?"

"I own the place I can be gone for as long as I want,"

"It's too soon ma, but you will meet him one day."

"Fine, finish this up and get your ass home."

"Maybe"

"I'm not joking Mackenzie, I will hunt you down if I have to."

"Ok all right I'll be home later."

"Thank you" She starts to back away, "I'll see you later"

"Bye mom" he watches her leave.

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