Summary: While Ben packs for San Diego Comic Con, he and MC (Dani) prepare for their first night apart since they got married.
“Are you sure you can’t come with me to San Diego?” Ben asked as he neatly folded a pair of his pajama pants and set it inside the suitcase. “They gave me a room in the same hotel as last year, the one right across the street from the convention center. I looked it up online and this time it faces the ocean.”
“I wish I could,” Dani said from where she lay on their bed beside his open suitcase. “But I have that interview with Sheryl Sandberg for the website this weekend, it was the only time she could meet.”
“I know, I know,” Ben said. He regarded her on the bed for a moment before he picked up his suitcase, set it on the floor, and then lay beside her on the bed. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?” he asked, brushing her hair back from her face. “The website is doing so well and getting this interview with Sheryl Sandberg is so great.”
Dani blushed.
“Hey, I hardly compare to a veritable god of Comic Con,” she said. “Your fans line up for hours just to get their comics signed by you.”
Ben grinned and leaned in to kiss her gently.
“I’m just trying to keep up with you,” he murmured. Dani grinned and slid an arm around his waist, sneaking her hand underneath his shirt to rest against the bare skin of his back.
“When’s your flight?” she asked, kissing him again as she pulled his hips closer to hers.
“Very soon. I actually need to get out of here if I have any chance of making my flight.” He kissed her again and reluctantly pulled away. Dani groped for him in futility as he stood up and headed towards the bathroom. She groaned, facedown on the bed.
“And you’re sure you can’t take a flight in the morning?” she called after him, her voice muffled by the comforter.
“I wish I could, but I have a breakfast meeting at 7:30,” Ben said as he returned to the bedroom carrying a leather toiletry case that he dropped into his suitcase before zipping it up. Dani propped herself up on her elbows and watched him pull on his shoes.
“Remind me again why you won’t let me take you to the airport?” Dani asked, a sadness starting to settle in her chest. Ben turned to look at her.
“Because this is the first time since we got married that we’re going to be apart and I’m pretty sure that if you come with me, I just won’t get on the plane,” Ben said a little sadly.
“You know,” Dani said, “during their entire marriage, Paul and Linda McCartney only spent eleven nights apart.”
Ben smiled.
“Then we’ll be like Paul and Linda,” he said. “And hey, this trip is only two nights apart so maybe we’ll end up beating their record.”
“I just …” Dani started to speak but the words got lost somewhere between her heart and her mouth. Part of her felt like she was being ridiculous; she and Ben were married and they’d have a thousand nights together–what did it matter if they spent these two apart? But then the other side of her felt completely devastated at not falling asleep in Ben’s arms.
“I know,” Ben said. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, their lips saying far more than their voices could. “I’ll see you in two days, okay?”
“I love you, Paul.”
“I love you, too, Linda.”
