“I think the best of us tend to fuck up. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be expanded some grace,” At least that was what she had been taught by her parents, but Ezri knew how that was not something that was expanded throughout everyone else. Not that she was going judge how the supernatural raised their own children, who was she to pass judgement? Not like she was a mother or anything close to it. “He faked his death twice with you around. I think you shouldn’t take it personal. I mean look how many times Singer fucked up and I still wouldn’t close the door if he needed help or looked like things were going wrong with him – and yeah there is a 99.9% chance that he would probably fuck me over but it doesn’t matter because I can just control me – and I guess I want to be someone that doesn’t give up on people. But I get why you won’t. I am not saying trust Everett. I guess I am just saying stop being so hard on him but at the end of the day I will respect whatever choice you decide to go with, sorry for pushing the topic,” Which she genuine was, she knew that Ben knew what he was doing more often than not, she didn’t want it to appear that she was doubting his leadership because she wasn’t. “That is true. I am hoping that perhaps this Christmas – or this holiday will be an exception because I want to actually be able to do something with Arya and Aiden not to mention James. I have heard that he is lately in firemans and have gotten some buddies of mine down the station to let me borrow the fire truck and take him into it,” Being a cop still had it’s benefits aside of being out of the coven and being able to be among peers that judged her for what she brought to the table and not the mistakes of her past or who he husband was. “Maybe – when is juliette due? Perhaps by Christmas you will be uncle – how are you dealing with your future new title?” She had been able to hang out with Juliette the past few days, the two had been redecorating the living room as they also talked about the baby’s bedroom. Though there wasn’t much to base it off since Juliette wanted the gender to be a surprise.
“I’m starting to get the feeling that we’re not talking just about Everett here,” Ben said finally. Ezri did think that way, she would be the first to forgive and the first to sacrifice. But the way she was talking about screwing up and forgiving, there was something in her tone that made him think it wasn’t about Everett and more about herself. “Just with Everett, I do have a problem with what he did. Faking his death, running away and blaming all of us for his problems. No-one is innocent but if you don’t take responsibility for your actions--” he shifted, “Everett not taking responsibility for his actions and making this everyone elses fault isn’t something I’m okay with. It never has been.” Ben cracked his knuckles, “my family always told me it was my fault I didn’t have magic. I blamed myself for so long even though it had nothing to do with me.” Ezri had also blamed him for not being there for her while she had been sleeping with Sam. Everyone always liked to make things out to be Ben’s fault. He still didn’t fully accept that some things weren't or that what he was responsible for wasn’t the whole picture--but he’d be damned before he avoided responsibility for what was his fault. “Being hard on him would be telling any of this to his face,” Ben said, “which I don’t plan on doing. I don't want to hear about how I forced him away. He’s got Fel for that.” Ben hated the concept of the one or the right person being able t change someone. It was some bullshit thing people liked to say when they didn't want to put the work into a relationship. Ben’s magic was designed to show him the one, he knew that, but both he and Callum had learned that the perfect one for you could still not want to be with you. “That sounds good,” Ben said. His family was difficult, but at least they had mostly stopped short of trying to kill him--except for his father. It was ironic how his father in law still probably wanted him dead as well. No wonder he had no interest in being a father, when he ran through the list anyone who came close to that tile or figure in his life had tried to kill him or left him for dead. “I’m more trying to wrap my head around the idea of Callum being a father,” he said, feeling the familiar itch creep up his spine, “I know he’s changed but I remember when we were kids and how he was,” he rubbed his shoulder, “I don’t know how he’ll react to having a kid.” Callum had been the final straw for Ben. His childhood had been miserable and full of actual physical torture, but the final straw had come at thirteen when a child Callum had beat him almost to the point of death and left him physically scarred. The massive tattoo on his back hid the marks, but there were still times when his back itched when he thought about his brother. “I think Juliette’s gonna be great with the kid or kids,” he said, “how are you feeling about having another niece or nephew?”
