*Benji spends one on one time with Will and RJ and gets his ears pierced! Thank you to BrianBadgerMay for helping me write this! Enjoy! Love • Bree 🥰*
"Will you take a bottle for Nana? Hmm?" Will says to Henry, holding the nine month old in his arms, walking around downstairs waiting for RJ and Benji to get ready.
RJ and Will are taking Benji out for the day, just the three of them to spend much needed time with the eldest Shepherd-Aguiar child. With him being 12, he is a preteen and is experiencing a lot of new things that his younger siblings aren't close to experiencing just yet - hormones, "dating", middle school and much more.
Will and RJ have both noticed Benji acting not quite like himself. A lot has happened during the past year, Hank unexpectedly passing away, Luci was adopted, Henry was born, Warren passed away from brain cancer and his bisabuela had a hard fall causing a mini stroke.
Will and RJ want to make sure Benji stays on track mental health wise. When Benji first came home he had tons of PTSD due to surviving a house fire (he still has small burn scars to prove it, thankfully they have gotten smaller and you can barely see them now), his parents drugs addiction and their deaths.
With lots of therapy and love, Benji has been thriving and he hasn't needed therapy for a few years now.
Will and RJ are going to take Benji to the mall to go shopping, go to Dave and Busters and maybe get his ears pierced. (He has been asking for a while and Will and RJ have told him no)
Coralei, Averie, Theodore and Harlow are all watching a movie in the playroom while Luca, Luci, Arya and Oliver are taking a nap. Henry is suppose to be napping too but he decided to take his first nap much earlier in the day and isn't tired for his second nap yet.
"Da da ba ba!" Henry says with a big cheeky smile.
*Henry's outfit*
Out of all of Will and RJ's biological children, Henry has been the only one that has exclusively breastfed for most feedings. Yes, Henry has taken bottles but it is NOT his favorite and puts up a fight.
Will and RJ have tried several times to go out on dates or whatever without Henry but he has refused to take a bottle.
Thankfully, the past two times Will and RJ have gone out for a date, Henry has taken a bottle for Karen.
"It's because you and RJ got the wrong type of bottle! He likes this kind!" Karen says holding up the small bottle, causing Will to chuckle.
"But that bottle is too small for him, Mom. He's almost ten months old he needs double the amount of breast milk or formula in there." Will says, fixing Henry's shirt.
"Well, I'll just fill it up twice or make two of these bottles that's all! Everytime he takes this bottle with no issue!" Karen says to Will.
"You spoiled him!" Will says playfully.
"That's my job as a Nana! But everyone has spoiled him. He's the baby. Aren't you, sweet boy? Hmm?"Karen says, kissing Henry's cheek.
"Na na!" Henry says as he smiles at Karen.
Henry's newest word he has been saying is Nana but sometimes it sounds like Mama, which makes Will chuckle since he calls his mom Mama sometimes.
"That's right, Henry." Karen smiles back at the baby.
Benji then comes into the same room as Will, RJ, Karen and Henry, slipping on his shoes.
*Benji's outfit*
"Are you ready to go, Benji?" RJ asks happily as he looks at him.
"Yep! I got everything I need. Is Henry coming with us? I know he's still little." Benji asks.
"No, like we said, it's just you and us. Nana will watch him because he's been taking bottles now and he's almost a year old. It'll be okay." Will explains.
Benji looks interested, a smile already creeping onto his face. He loves his family, but it's nice to have individual time with one or two people.
And it also gives Benji space to think about what he wants, not just what his siblings would want. Which could be tricky, but he was excited to get some alone time.
"Okay. Bye, Nana! Bye, Henry!" Benji waves at the two, who say goodbye in return.
"Bye, Henry! Be good for Nana." RJ gives the baby a kiss on the forehead softly.
"We'll see you later," Will tells them and goes out to the car with his husband and older son.
"Ba ba!" Henry imitates.
"What music should we listen to, Benji?" Will asks curiously as he buckles up.
"Can we listen to the Foo Fighters? | don't listen to them much at home since it's hard to pay attention to the music with everyone talking sometimes." Benji requests.
"Sure!" RJ says as he puts the Foo Fighters playlist up and Benji happily listens along.
"What do you wanna do first? Dave and Busters or eat something?" Will asks Benji with a smile.
"Maybe we can eat something first! Can we eat something at Dave and Busters?" Benji asks Will and RJ.
"Sure! They have good food!" RJ says as he holds Will's hand.
Will gives RJ's hand a kiss before he starts the car up and begins to drive. RJ smiles.
Benji watches out the window and nods to the music, the current song playing one called 'Monkey Wrench', which was one of his favorites.
The songs keep playing as they keeping driving, Benji singing along to some he knows the words to.
Finally, they arrive at Dave and Buster's. The three of them sit down at a table and look through a menu.
"Whatcha gonna get, Benji?" Will asks Benji as he looks through the menu while drinking his water.
"Maybe some nachos! Or the Pretzel sticks!" Benji says happily.
"That sounds good! I think I might get a cheeseburger!" RJ says as he turns the menu page.
"I think I'll get a steak." Will says as he glances over at the pages.
Benji thinks about it some more and decides he wants nachos. He waits patiently until a waitress comes over.
"Hi, guys! Can I get you any drinks to start? Or are you ready to order?" The lady with the nametag 'Sheryl' asks cheerfully.
One by one, Will, RJ and Benji order their food and they are now enjoying an appetizer of fries and mozzarella sticks.
"Thank you for taking me out to have fun today, Dad and Papi. I love you both so much.
"I love you too! And you're welcome! Papi and I should have taken you out sooner. You deserve time away with just us three and not your little siblings tagging along." Will says with a big smile.
"And I love you too! I know you love your siblings but sometimes it's fun to get away especially since you're almost a teenager and your siblings aren't." RJ says as Benji giggles.
"Harlow says she's a teenager." Benji says to Will and RJ sipping on his drink.
"She's a fivenager, aka a mini boss to Luca, Luci, Arya, Oli and Henry." RJ says causing Benji to giggle again.
Sheryl brings the meals and leaves with a smile as they continue to talk.
"I don't think she knows what ages are. Neither do Luca, Henry, the twins and Luci." Benji adds.
"No, I don't think so. Kids don't usually think about age. It's kind of funny." Will agrees.
"They really don't." RJ says and eats a mozzarella stick.
The three of them chat and eat their food, but Benji's mind drifts to his feelings of sadness that were deep inside. He wants to be happy, but he just remembered something.
RJ notices the melancholy look on his son's face and frowns. "Benji? Did you wanna talk about something?" He asks quietly.
"I don't wanna get sad though." Benji sighs looking down at the ground.
"Hey, it's okay to feel sad. It's a very valid emotion, Bub. You know it's important to let your sad feelings out, it helps you feel better." Will says to Benji softly.
"Dad and I have noticed lately that you haven't been your happy self. You know you can talk to Fad or I about anything, everything and you can say whatever you feel." RJ says, making sure Benji felt comfortable to speak.
"It's just been a lot going on. With Pop and Poppa dying last year and Bisabuela getting sick, it's been making me just feel sad. And I don't know why but I've been thinking about my mom and my other dad a lot more too. I guess because in school the book we are reading in English class the girl was adopted and her parents died just like me." Benji explains to his parents.
RJ nods solemnly. He thinks about what to say while Benji talks. He feels a little sad too, knowing there wasn't much to do about the situation.
Will also just listens, wanting to make sure his son knew that he cared.
"That's a valid reason to be sad, too. They all are. Sometimes we don't know why we feel upset, or we feel okay and then something happens that makes us feel sad. It's very common." RJ says finally.
Benji listens and sits quietly. Then he speaks again. "It is? I thought I was just sad for no reason."
"Sometimes we do just feel sad for no reason. Most of the time, there is a reason. But not always. But sad feelings are just there, and then they go. All feelings come and go. Some linger." Will says softly.
"I know the last year has been crazy and a lot. If you need to go to your therapist again, Dad and I can arrange that for you." RJ says, rubbing Benji's back.
"I hate to go back, I worked so hard to get out of it." Benji says with a sigh.
"People go to therapy even when they are sad or happy. It helps get everything in of your head out." Will explains to Benji.
Benji looks thoughtful and considers it. He was slightly embarrassed to admit he might need more therapy. But then again..
"Yeah, I think it might help. My happiness doesn't last very long lately." Benji says softly.
"Okay, we can help you with that. There is nothing to be ashamed of, a lot of people go to therapy. It's nice to have someone to talk to that can help you know what to do when you feel unhappy or stressed." Will says and sips his own drink.
Benji nods and smiles just a little bit. Even just talking to his parents about what he'd kept inside himself was like a weight off his shoulders.
"You've had a lot of hard things happen this past year, it makes sense to feel the way you do." RJ says to Benji.
"I've been talking to my therapist about Pop and Poppa's deaths. It's helped me a lot." Will says to Benji, holding his hand.
"Okay. I'll talk to a therapist about the grief I've been dealing with. And maybe about Henry and Luci. I mean, I love them... But is that bad?" Benji wonders.
"It's not bad. They were unexpected additions to our family. It must've been hard to adjust when Oli and Arya had been born recently." RJ assures him. "It's a lot to handle."
Benji looks relieved and lets go of Will's hand. He eats some food and soon, everyone is done eating.
"What do we do now?" Benji asks curiously.
"Do you wanna play some games?" RJ asks Benji and Benji happily nods his head.
"Yes!" Benji says with excitement since Benji loves going to Dave and Busters but doesn't go there often because it's hard to have ten kids to watch in there.
"Okay! Let's get some points added to our cards and then we can play some games." Will says with a cheeky grin.
"Let's go basketball first! I'm going to win!" Benji says as he giggles, causing Will and RJ to both smile.
Will and RJ throw basketballs into the hoop as well, RJ tying with Benji's score.
The game goes on. Will almost wins too, but in the end, Benji does.
"That was a close game! Good job!" Will says happily.
"Thanks! Yeah, that was close." Benji agrees and grins proudly. "Now can we do bowling?"
"If you want! That sounds good." RJ says and they walk over to the bowling area.
They all scan their cards and start to play.
"I forgot how heavy bowling balls are! How do people control the direction they go?" Benji exclaims.
"You don't, really, I guess. They can be lighter, though. These ones are a bit heavier." Will says.
"Look here are the lighter ones, let's bowl with these. Dad and I are old." RJ says as he manages to brings three bowling balls over.
"Hey! No we aren't." Will says playfully to RJ.
"We are in our mid 30s. We are old, baby." RJ says as Benji giggles.
Finally, Will, Benji and RJ begin to bowl. It takes Benji a couple tries until he can bowl in the right direction.
"Oh! That was so close to a strike!" Benji says a bit dramatically. But he wasn't actually upset.
"Eight pins is still pretty good! I only got six!" Will says in return.
"I got a strike, but just barely." RJ chuckles.
They keep going, all of them doing quite well. Aside from an occasional gutter ball.
After bowling, Benji, Will and RJ are walking around the mall looking at the different stores.
At Hot Topic, Benji has a few shirts he has been wanting and is getting with his money. Benji usually saves his money but Will and RJ want him to get things he likes and wanted.
"I kinda wish my ears were pierced." Benji says softly as he looks at the different earrings.
"Really? You can do that if you really want." RJ says with a tilt of his head.
"I can?" Benji asks with surprise.
"Sure. You are old enough to decide for yourself, so you're old enough to take care of your ears if you want them pierced." Will agrees.
RJ pauses, "if you really want it, we can get your ears pierced today." RJ speaks quietly too. He was serious.
"But it is a bit of work to make sure your ears don't get infected. And they might hurt." Will warns.
"I can take care of them. It's just.. Earrings are so cool and they kind of are a way of expressing yourself." Benji mentions.
"I understand that. So yeah, do you want to?" RJ asks.
Benji thinks for one moment, "Yes, I do want to do that." He puts a shirt back and holds three in his arms. "And I'm ready to check out. Unless I can buy earrings here?" He wonders.
"You can get some! But when they pierced them they want you to keep the ones they put in in your ears for a few weeks while everything heals, okay? Then you can switch your earrings whenever." Will explains to Benji.
"Yeah, that makes sense! I know someone from school and they had to do the same thing when their ears got pierced." Benji says with a big smile.
"There's a piercing place right across from us! They are really nice." The young worker says with a big grin.
Will listens to the background music and smiles as it plays a song he recognizes; a Foo Fighters one.
Benji smiles and grabs two pairs of earrings, since he only had so much money on him to spend. There was a sale on it anyway.
"Oh, okay! Yeah, I wanna go there." Benji looks at his dads, who nod approvingly. Then to the worker, "I'd like to buy these, please."
"You got it!" The employee says and starts checking out the earrings and shirts.
"Would you like a bag?" They ask. Benji nods.
They put the items all in a bag and hand it to Benji. "Thanks! Have a great day!"
"Thank you!" Benji smiles and walks out with Will and RJ.
"Papi and I will pay for your earrings and the piercing it self." Will says to Benji and RJ nods agreeing with him.
"Awesome! I'm so stoked." Benji says with a big smile.
"Pick out whatever earrings you wanna get! You'll have those earrings in for a few weeks." RJ explains to Benji as the trio walks over to the piercing place.
Benji was happy to get to have these. He had just gotten two pairs of earrings at Hot Topic, but knowing his parents would pay for the ones he had to have in for weeks and the piercing was gratifying.
"I'm a little bit nervous," Benji mentions as he starts scanning the different options.
"it's okay to be nervous! That's a natural feeling. Take your time." RJ says patiently.
The preteen takes a deep breath and finally choses a pair.
"Hello! Welcome to Polar Piercing and Tattoos! I'm Carlos!" Carlos says with a big grin.
"Hi!" Benji says as he hands Will the earrings.
"Is that the pair you want to put in?" Will asks Benji, making sure that's the pair he wants.
"Yes!" Benji says with a big grin.
"Okay, then!" Will smiles back.
"I would like to get my ears pierced and I wanna use these earrings please." Benji says to Carlos.
"Great! Let's get them in." Carlos motions for Benji to sit down in the chair and so he does.
Carlos starts to get the equipment ready and everything.
"I'm going to use a needle to get your earrings in since the piercing guns aren't the greatest. Is that okay?" Carlos explains to Benji.
"Yes, that's okay." Benji says with a grin.
"It's just gonna feel like a little pinch. But you need to stay still while I do it." Carlos says as he exams Benji's earlobes to see where the best spot for the earrings are and mark them.
"Woah, they are gonna look nice!" RJ says with a big grin.
"How does this look? The black dot is where the earrings will go. I wanted to make sure they were center. And you will have enough room for another earring in the future." Carlos explains to Benji.
"Just like Tia Anthonette! She has a few earrings!" Benji says with a grin.
"She does! Gabriella, Alexis and Miranda do too!" Will says with a smile.
"I like the placement!" Benji says as he waits.
"Okay! I'll pierce your ears now. And I have to rub some alcohol on your ears so they are clean." Carlos says, making sure Benji knows what'll happen.
Benji nods and sits very still, taking a couple more deep breaths. Carlos pierces his ears and Benji closes his eyes at the feeling. Carlos then puts the earrings Benji chose in his earlobes.
"They look great, Benji." Will says, proud of his preteen for doing something he wanted to do despite being a little scared.
"Super cool!" RJ says as he takes a few pictures.
Carlos then holds a mirror so Benji can check his ears out.
"Whatcha think?" Carlos asks Benji with a smile.
Benji thinks about it as he looks at his newly pierced ears and decides he likes the look. He beams.
"I think it's awesome! I've been wanting earrings for a while. I love how they look - I feel like I look older!" Benji exclaims.
"I think you do too! Just a bit older." RJ agrees happily.
"You are growing up too fast!" Will says as Benji giggles.
"I'm only twelve." Benji says with a grin.
"I know but you are the oldest and are experiencing milestones before your siblings." Will says as Benji nods.
"Thank you so much!" Benji says to Carlos happily.
"You are welcome!" Carlos says, giving a thumbs up to Benji.
Benji stands up and waits as the adults talk a bit about maintenance, and then RJ and Will come with him to pay for it.
RJ notices Benji smiling and then making his face look neutral, and then smiling again. "It's okay to feel happy, too. You look happy." He says.
"I am! I just can't believe I have earrings now." Benji replies, unsure of why he had tried to hide his happiness.
"You should have said something we would have gotten them done sooner." Will says with a grin.
Benji shrugs happily. The three of them all go back to the car and begin to drive home.
"Thanks again for taking me out. I feel a lot better." Benji speaks up.
"No problem. You definitely deserve it." RJ says softly.
"Oh, yeah. It's good to do things that make you feel happy." Will adds, hugging Benji.
When they get home and open the door, RJ is greeted by Arya at his legs. "Hey, Arya! Hello!"
Luca comes over too, watching from a distance.
"Papi back!" Arya says with joy.
"We're back too!" Will says playfully.
Arya hugs Will and Benji by their legs too.
"Benji! Your ears!" Luca says as he comes up to his older brother. He looks impressed.
"I got them pierced! Aren't they cool?" Benji says to Luca and Luca happily nods in agreement,
"Sooo cool!" Luca says with a little giggle and big grin.
"Oooo!" Arya says as she smiles, pointing at Benji.
"DADDY! PAPI!" Oliver yells as he runs over to greet them.
"Hi, Oli!" Will says as Oliver hugs his legs.
"Hey, squirt!" RJ says as Oliver runs over to hug his legs.
"Arya! Oli! Luca! Where are you guys?" Karen says as she and Henry walk around looking for the trio.
"Here, Nana!" Luca calls as he walks over to Karen. "Look at Benji!"
RJ ruffles Oliver's hair and looks at Karen as she enters the room.
"Oh, good, you guys are all in here. And yes, I see! Benji got his ears pierced! They look great!" Karen smiles, relieved that the younger kids weren't getting into trouble.
"Thanks! I really like them, Nana!" Benji says with a smile.
"I'm so glad!" Karen says with a grin.
"Where's Luci, Harlow, Teddy, Cora and Avy?" Will asks Karen.
"They all fell asleep watching a movie. I was just about to wake them up." Karen says as Henry babbles happily at his siblings, Daddy and Papi.
"Awww. That's cute." RJ says and looks at Henry, nodding along to whatever he was babbling about.
"Did you have fun?" Will asks Benji and picks up Oliver to give him a hug.
"I really did! It was nice to have a day out." Benji smiles as he answers Will.
"That's good. I'm glad you feel that way." Will nods.
For the rest of the day, Will, RJ, Karen and the kids spend it together! :)
*Picture of a selfie of Will, Benji and RJ*
shep689 it's hard to believe we have been parents for almost ten years but we have loved every minute of it ❤️
*Picture of Will and Benji standing together. Both of them are smiling*
shep689 he is almost taller than me and he's not even 13 😳 (his bio dad was 6'5)
Benji has had a rough few months with his mental health so @damnitrj and I wanted to make sure to spend extra time with him. we took him to Dave and Busters where he kicked our butts in basketball and bowling, we ate and then we surprised him by letting him get his ears pierced. he was SO excited. 😭😊
I'm so thankful that Benji knows he can tell us anything and knows we will help him no matter what. I am so proud to be Benji's dad, he is one of the strongest people I have ever met. I love him so so much 🩵
*Picture of Benji showing off his new earrings*
shep689 Benji got his ears pierced today. he was so excited 🥹
*Picture of a selfie of RJ and Benji. Both of them are doing silly faces*
damnitrj At least our preteen still likes to take pictures with us @shep689 😅😊
*Picture of Benji showing off his new earrings*
damnitrj Benji got his ears pierced!
The littlest things makes him smile and it's so nice to see him smile after a rough few months mentally. ❤️