Daytime Soap Operas
Sunset Beach Fan Fiction

Chapter 17

Disclaimer: Sunset Beach belongs to Aaron Spelling and NBC. This fanfic is purely for fans entertainment.

Meg: "Benjy!"

Benjy: "No, Tess can't leave. Daddy, she's not leaving is she?"

Ben: "Benjy, come here."

Benjy walked over to them and they sat on the couch.

Ben: "Benjy, Tess is moving out but you will still see her every day. She'll still take care of you while we're at work but she can't stay here any more. Do you understand?"

Benjy: "Yeah but Mommy is staying isn't she? She won't have to leave like Tess will she?"

Ben: "Well, your mum will be staying for awhile but sooner or later she'll be moving out aswell. How do you feel about that?"

Benjy: "Why does she have to leave? Can't we all just stay here? I'll be good Daddy, I promise. Please don't make Mommy go away."

Ben: "I'm not making your mum go away Benjy. You will still be able to see her all the time but like Tess, she won't live here."

Benjy: "Will me and Meg have to go to?"

Ben smiled: "No Benjy. This is your's and Meg's home. Neither of you will ever have to leave here."

Meg: "And your Mommy will always be welcome to come and visit you here."

Benjy: "You won't leave will you Daddy?"

Ben: "No, I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

Benjy: "OK. When is Tess leaving?"

Ben: "She's leaving today. She's going to stay in a hotel for awhile and then she'll get her own place."

Benjy: "I'll get to say goodbye won't I?"

Meg: "Yes, you will. But don't worry, like your daddy said you'll still get to see her every day."

Tess came down the stairs with a small bag in her hands.

Tess: "Well, I booked a room at the Sunset Beach Inn and I called for a taxi. When I find an apartment I'll get the rest of my things. Did you explain things to Benjy?"

Ben: "Yes, we did. He understands everything."

Tess: "Benjy, I want you to be a good boy OK? I'll see you tomorrow and I love you."

Benjy: "I'll be good Tess. I love you too."

Benjy hugged Tess goodbye and the three of them walked Tess to the door. As the taxi pulled away, tears filled Tess's eyes.

Tess thought to herself: "How can I leave my little boy in that house with those people? I hate Ben and Maria! Meg is alright I suppose but she's not going to be there for very long. Benjy I love you so much. Please God keep him safe until I can get him back again."

Derek watched the taxi leave the house and knew how hard it must have been on Tess.

Derek: "I'm sorry Tess but you are going to have to get used to being without our son. Soon, Meg and I will be raising him and you won't have anything more to do with him!"

Derek's cell phone began to ring.

Derek: "Hello?"

Jake: "Hi Derek, its me. I'm catching an earlier flight. I'll be in Sunset Beach by tomorrow. Where will I meet you?"

Derek gave him the address of the apartment he had rented for a few weeks.

Jake: "I should get there about 2.00 p.m. tomorrow."

Derek: "Good, I'll meet you there and we can talk about everything. I want our plan to happen the day after tomorrow. I want my son back as soon as possible."

Jake: "Don't worry. Everything will be fine".

They hung up their phones and Derek headed back to his apartment.

After Derek left, Maria came home to find Benjy sitting on Meg's lap talking to Ben about the park. Maria thought Meg looked so natural with Benjy and Benjy seemed happy with her. Maria felt a nervous feeling begining in her stomach. This was the moment she had secretly dreaded. Benjy had accepted Meg. Now there was no reason for her not to move out and share custody with Ben. She had only moved in for Benjy's sake and now that he was settled she knew Ben would ask for a divorce. She didn't think she was ready for that to happen.

Maria thought to herself:"Tess just moved out today. Ben won't want me to move out any time soon. Benjy has enough to deal with in losing Tess."

Maria came into the room: "Hi everyone".

Benjy looked up and smiled: "Hi Mommy. Guess what? Meg took me to the park. We had a great time!"

Maria smiled half - heartedly: "That nice Benjy. Meg would you mind taking Benjy upstairs for a few minutes? I need to talk to Ben privately."

Meg: "Uh, sure. Lets go Benjy. We'll see if we can find Franklin. That cat seems to have disappeared."

They walked up the stairs and Ben smiled after them.

Ben: "They seem to have bonded a lot today", he said more to himself than to Maria.

Maria frowned: "Yeah, its great", she said sarcastically.

Ben looked at her and said: "What did you want to talk about?"

Maria: "I wanted to talk about Tess and Benjy. Is Tess gone?"

Ben: "Yes, she is. Benjy took it very well and I know you might be angry about this but I told him you would be moving out soon aswell."

Maria was shocked: "WHAT? Ben, how could you do that without talking to me first?"

Ben calmly said: "I now I should have talked to Benjy about it with you here but I knew he could handle it. And he did. He's fine. He knows he will be able to see you whenever he likes."

Maria: "So you just threw the news at him? That poor child. It wasn't right Ben!"

Ben: "Maybe not but I did what I thought was best. And now I want to talk to you about something."

Maria: "And what would that be?"

Ben: "Its time for you to move out Maria."