Bennett didn't answer, instead asking, "Are you fully awake?"

"Yes, what's up?" Yvonne asked, confused.

"This is what's up. I didn't sleep well all night. You need to compensate me," Bennett said before rolling on top of her.

Yvonne was exhausted all over again just after waking up. Before she even got out of bed, she fell right back asleep, sleeping from dawn until the sun was high in the sky. It was Bennett who finally woke her.

"You skipped breakfast, and if you skip lunch too, you'll starve. Get up and eat first, you can sleep more after," Bennett said, lifting Yvonne from the bed and carrying her to the living room.

Helen had made breakfast that morning and then returned to the apartment next door. Now, it was just Bennett and Yvonne, quiet and cozy.

Yvonne rubbed her eyes and sat down at the dining table.

Bennett picked up a warm bowl of tonic soup from the table and fed it to Yvonne spoonful by spoonful.

"This tastes really good. Is it from Mom's?" Yvonne asked.

"Mhm," Bennett nodded. "I checked yesterday. There are also other expensive tonics and herbs. You're so delicate, you really do need to nourish your body."

"So you want to fatten me up to have your babies too, huh?" Yvonne said, then, as if suddenly remembering something, she put a hand up to block the spoon Bennett was offering.

"You didn't use protection just now, did you?"

"Nope. We were out, I forgot to buy more," Bennett said nonchalantly.

"This isn't my safe period. What if I get pregnant?" she asked, blinking at him, her bright eyes unreadable.

"If you get pregnant, we'll have the baby," Bennett replied with a smile. "I'm soft- hearted and responsible too. Didn't you say a child is the biggest chip to keep a man in line? Maybe you should have a little bargaining chip of your own to use on me?"

Yvonne raised an eyebrow at him and suddenly asked, "So if I don't have a child, I can't keep you in line?"

Bennett was speechless.

It was the first time Yvonne had ever

left him at a loss for words. He

paused for a moment, then shook

his head and chuckled. "I think I just walked myself into a trap

"Hmph," Yvonne snorted, then opened her mouth to accept another spoonful from Bennett.

After they ate, Yvonne felt more energetic. No longer sleepy, she started to feel a bit bored.

She had just wrapped up her last film and didn't have to start a new project anytime soon. Sandra, in a rare act of kindness had given her a few days off.

After his serious injury, the military hadn't assigned Bennett any new missions, so he wasn't too busy and had some rare time off.

"Dominic invited us to go camping by the lake. Want to go for a day and come back tomorrow?" Bennett asked.

"Camping with the Taylors?" Yvonne's pretty eyebrows arched in a half-smile.

Usually, Bennett wouldn't even let her mention the Taylor family, and now he was suggesting they go camping with them.

"I said Dominic. Camping with him is usually never boring. Your p Thomas is still filming at so he cant make

She can make bac

back

Bennett said coolly.

"Oh. That's a shame," Yvonne said, deliberately trying to annoy him.

Bennett sighed in resignation, then asked, "Noah and his family will be there too. Do you want to join in on the fun?"

"Sure," Yvonne agreed. It was better than being bored at home anyway.

Bennett went next door to ask Helen to come over and help them pack.

They would be staying overnight, so they needed to bring a lot of things. Yvonne wasn't the most meticulous packer, not like Helen.

Helen came over with Bullet on his leash.

As Helen packed, Bullet wagged his tail and circled around Yvonne, wagging his tail excitedly.