I had driven the last few miles or so in utter silence. The radio had gone out as it always did when I came this way, in the small zone where the last signal fades out before new york fades in. I was just driving, the sound of the air cooled engine the revs and brakes all the other little sounds my beetle made. Every so often my jacket would squeak and creak where the leather was warming up and I moved the wheel. The music faded in from the new york station the lights of the city shining in my window. I was almost on autopilot going the roads, the turns I knew, the stops I knew so well. I parked up in my usual space at the road side infront of the tall building.
I shut the car off stuffing my keys on my pocket, I climbed out and grabbed my bag from the backseat throwing it over my shoulder and heading down the cold dark stairs knowing each and every uneaven step, past the doors, trash bags, flickering barely functioning lights. That foul smell still lingering around but a overwhelming flower scent like air freshener. I grabbed my keys putting them in the battered scratched up lock unlocking the door and pushing it open, and stepping inside shutting the door behind me. the apartment was warm, it smelt like lavender, I looked into the apartment, it was clean, tidy, warm, cosy, records spinning, the table laid out nicely, laundry drying by the heater. I smiled as I saw y/n stood as she often did, no shoes, flesh tone stockings, her little white dress with a gentle grey checked pattern, a white apron around her waist, brighter blue washing up gloves on her hands as she cleaned dishes, her hair in a tight high pony not to unlike barbie. She turned as she heard the door and she smiled
"Benny!" She giggled pealing her gloves off throwing them next to the sink, she ran over jumping on me and wrapping her arms around me instantly I dropped my bag and wrapped my arms around her
"Hey y/n" I smiled squeezing her tightly, she was warm, soft, cosy, I could smell her shampoo and her perfume
"I missed you" she smiled moving back a little
"I missed you too" I smiled giving her nose a kiss
"Coffee? Tea? Apple juice?" She asks taking my bag for me heading back to the kitchen
"Apple juice please, is there any mail for me?" I told her slipping off my Jacket and hat sitting them on the hook beside her big purple jacket
"On the shelf" she says indicating to the bookshelf by the bathroom door, as she opens my bag up putting my stuff on the table getting the laundry to take to the machine, the clean to our bedroom, sorting everything out
I grabbed the little pile of mail and went to the table sitting on my usual chair flipping through the mail, she brought me over a tall milk glass of apple juice, and my letter opener giving my head a kiss as she went back to the washing up.
I went through the mail most of it junk or bits and bobs about the next tournament rounds.
"Ahh before I forget. Here" I said grabbing the large brown envelope from my bag
"Don't worry you keep hold of that" she says coming over with her cup of tea sitting across from me
"Isn't rent due tomorrow?"
"No, done paid Early" she says sipping her tea
"Y/n."
"Yes?"
"You shouldn't be doing that."
"Well I did. We can use your stuff to get groceries"
"You shouldn't do that I thought we agreed?"
"We did. I ignored you" she smiled
"Alright" I sighed "thank you sweetie, next time I pay the rent okay"
"Okay, did you want anything to eat?"
"No, no I had stuff in the hotel before I left"
"Okay" she smiled
I finished up with the letters and with my drink
"You wanna run though your games?" She asked a little bit of sadness in her voice
"No. I'll do that tomorrow" I said "come on, I've missed you" I offered my hand and she happily took it we shut the apartment up and went to bed getting changed and climbing in I smiled and wrapped my arms around her pulling her close in her little white nightie she smiled and nuzzled close onto my neck and chest her hands on my chest "I've really missed you"
"I always miss you when you go away"
"Well, I'm not going anywhere till July. I'm staying here with you. So long as that's okay?"
"Of course, of have you here forever if I could" she giggled "maybe in July you could take me with you?"
"I'd love to take you with me, if you wanna come I'd be happy to take you" I smiled stroking and playing with her hair "I love you. You know that don't you?" I whispered into her hair
"I know, I love you too" she smiled
"I don't show it much"
"You do, in little ways. In your Benny ways" she giggled
"Maybe you'd see it more if I was here more?"
"I might but I see it enough" she smiled "maybe you'd see it more if I took you with me?"
"Maybe"
"Then I'll take you more often. I promise"
"It's okay Benny, I don't mind that your away. Just means we just to make the most of the time we do have together"
"We do. Come on let's get some rest I promise we'll go out on a nice date tomorrow"
"We will?"
"Umm hum. All day. Just me and you I promise"
"Okay, goodnight Benny."
"Goodnight y/n"
"I love you" she smiled nuzzling her nose into my neck
"I love you too" I smiled "I missed you"
"I missed you too," she smiled "I'm happy your home"
"I'm very happy to be home y/n"