Rated PG	Rated PG  

I was chatting with Cat and Silvina this morning, and some things said in
that conversation inspired this story. So this one is for my KittyFerrett,
to help with exam stress.  

Alliance legally owns these characters; I am just borrowing them
temporarily. No copyright infringement or offense intended, and no profit
will be made.	BUNDLE UP, BENNY   

Ben sighed as he pulled his heavy winter coat on over all his other
clothes. Chicago had been hit by a severe ice storm at about 12:30 that
afternoon, paralyzing the city and knocking out the power. It was now
8:00, and Benny's apartment had passed "chilly" and was now downright
cold.  

Under his jacket he was wearing his red woolen long johns, a pair of
sweatpants, jeans, a t-shirt, flannel shirt and a sweatshirt. Diefenbaker
was huddled under the blankets on the bed, despite Ben's protestations
that he was an arctic wolf and shouldn't be such a baby.  

"Well Diefenbaker," Ben said, sitting on the bed next to his wolf, "I've
done all I can. I have sealed the cracks in the windows with newspapers,
I'm wearing several layers of clothing, you have the blankets, and I can
get under the blankets too and we can huddle together for additional
warmth. We'll be fine."  

A half-whine, half-growl from Diefenbaker.  

"Yes, well, I'm not thrilled about cuddling up with you either, but we've
no other choice, now do we?"  

Another whine.	

"Oh for God's sake, Diefenbaker! We've survived much colder nights than
this back in the Territories. We'll be fine."  

Diefenbaker looked up at Ben with a quiet sigh, and Ben scratched him
between the ears. "We'll be fine," he repeated, smiling at his wolf.  

Ben heard someone enter the apartment, and he picked up the lantern and
headed into the kitchen, expecting to see one of his neighbors. When he
saw who was there, his mouth fell open in surprise. "Ray! It can't
possibly be safe for you to be out driving tonight. What are you doing
here?"	

"I came to see if you wanted to take a nice stroll through the park,
Benny. What in the hell do you think I'm doing here? I came to get you."  

"You came to get me?"  

"Yes Benny," Ray said as patiently as he could. "I know you don't have any
way of heating this rat-trap, and the city might not get the power
restored for 24 hours- even longer in this neighborhood.  

"I'm taking you to my house, where we at least have fireplaces."  

"Oh, Ray. That really was kind of you to drive over here, but it wasn't
necessary. Dief and I will be fine. I don't want to be an imposition."	

Ray glared at his lover. "An imposition?! Benny, I hate to break it to
you, but right now you're being a royal pain in the ass!"  

"Ray?"	

"Benny, would you stop letting that stubborn independent streak get in the
way of your common sense? It's freezing in here, and it's only going to
get colder. For God's sake, you can see your breath in the air already!"  

Diefenbaker jumped down from the bed and trotted over to stand next to
Ray, leaning against his leg.  

Ben looked from his wolf to his lover, starting to weaken.  

"And there is one other very good reason you're coming home with me,
Benny. I did not risk life and limb driving across town- and then diving
back again- to go home with nothing to show for it. You're coming with
me."  

"Yes, Ray. I'm sorry."	

"You really are annoying sometimes Benny. You know that?" But all the
annoyance was gone from Ray's voice now, and he was smiling at Ben.  

"Yes Ray. And I'm sorry again."  

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's just get your stuff and go, okay?"  

Ben didn't need to pack any clothes- he was wearing them all- so after
throwing a few personal items into his toiletry kit, they were on their
way.  

 

The drive back to the Vecchio home took over an hour and a half, but
thanks to Ray's skilled and careful handling of the Riv they arrived
safely and without incident.  

Ben made a mental note to never complain again when Ray ran a stop sign.  

They entered the house and Ray led them to the living room. The door to
the room was closed for the first time that Ben could remember. They went
into the living room, and Ray shut the door firmly behind them.  

Ben smiled as he saw the entire family gathered together in the room. A
fire was roaring merrily in the fireplace, keeping the room pleasantly
warm.  

"Okay, we're all here now," Ray announced as a chorus of welcomes greeted
them. He turned to Ben with a grin. "Welcome to the Vecchio slumber
party."  

"I'm glad to be here," Ben smiled.  

Diefenbaker ran over to Rosa and placed his head in her lap, and Rosa
began petting him and cooing softly to him in Italian.	

Ben rolled his eyes. "Baby," he muttered.  

He looked at Ray, then took his lover's hand and led him over to an easy
chair, pushing him down into it. "Why don't you relax for awhile, Ray? The
drive over here had to have been very stressful for you."  

"No Benny, it's..." Ray broke off as Benny stepped behind the chair and
began massaging his shoulders. "Ahhhhh, that's wonderful, Benny."  

After Ben had finished the massage, he sat on the arm of the chair next to
Ray. "I'm very warm."  

"That's because you're wearing your entire wardrobe. Why don't you take
off two or three layers?"  

"Oh, I guess I could," Ben replied sheepishly.	

As he stood up and began removing the outer layer of his clothing, Frannie
began humming "bump and grind" music.  

Ben looked at her and blushed and faltered. "Francessca..."  

She just grinned and began humming louder.  

"Ray?"	

Ray looked at his sister, then Benny, and grinned. "It's the stripping
Canadian! Take it all off, Mountie!"  

Maria and Tony added a few catcalls of their own.  

Ben finished removing his flannel shirt and threw it so that it landed on
Ray's face. The family broke into laughter and cheers.	

Ray pulled the shirt from his face and grinned up at Benny. "You're
learning," he said, pulling Benny down onto the chair and into a kiss.	

 

The rest of the night was given to storytelling and game playing, then
everyone rolled out their sleeping bags or made beds out of the blankets
and quilts that had been taken from every bed in the house.  

Rosa had a spot right next to the fireplace, where it was warmest, with
the children next to her. The other adults spread out around them.  

Ray looked at Ben as he finished setting up his bedding and grinned. "It
could get cold all the way over here. You'd better bundle up, Benny."  

Ben looked at him and smiled. "I have a better idea. Why don't you bundle
up with Benny?" He lay down on the sleeping bag, pulled Ray down on top of
him, then pulled a blanket over them both.  

"Oh yes this is much better," Ray said, snuggling up next to Benny.  

They were quiet for a few minutes, then Benny spoke. "Ray, I've just
realized something."  

"What's that, Benny?"  

"The ice storms in Chicago are much nicer than the ones in the
Territories."  THE END 

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