Summary: Ben & Lydia relocate to Boston after Ben is stripped of his job as Head of Intelligence - May or may not become canon compliant with OLAW

Ben was not happy about his relocation to Boston. He was to appraise their defenses after Washington had relieved him of his duties as head of intelligence. He had been rather dour the entire carriage ride. Lydia wasn't entirely opposed to the idea. Not that she voiced that opinion to Ben in his current state.

First, they were far safer in Continental-controlled Boston than on the war front, even if they were wintering. Ben's job wouldn't be nearly as consuming. Sure, he would still have his duties to perform, but he could be home by dinner time. Home. That was the biggest reason she looked forward to staying in Boston. They would finally have their first home together. The last few months they had either lived in a tent or the attic in General Washington's quarters. This would be their first home as a married couple and Lydia had prayed for that since she was a little girl...to have a home with her Benj.

The carriage came to a stop and Lydia reached beside her and squeezed Ben's gloved hand. He glanced at his wife and offered her a small smile before giving her hand a gentle squeeze back. Lydia, feeling very much like a small child, looked out the carriage window at the house that was to be theirs. She hadn't known what to expect, but she already loved what she saw. Ben's status as an officer with a wife had afforded him some bit of comfort. That, and while General Washington wasn't pleased with Ben, he did think fondly of Lydia.

The house was two stories tall. It wasn't overly large, but it looked well-kept. There were four windows on the front of the house and a green door. Lydia already thought the place perfect to be their first home. Excitement hummed through her.

Ben was the first one out of the carriage as their things were unloaded and carried into the house. He then offered his hand to help Lydia out of the carriage. Lydia accepted her husband's hand and held tight to it, even after her feet were firmly planted on the ground. Ben surveyed the house. He didn't seem to share Lydia's enthusiasm. To him, it was a sign of demotion.

He patted Lydia's arm before he released her before he went to help the men carry their belongings into the house. Lydia adjusted her hat and followed Ben through the gate. She smiled at the sight of an apple tree, knowing she would be able to make Ben his mother's turnovers if they were here long enough for it to bear fruit. Ben came out of the house to grab more of their things.

So, Lydia walked around the house and found a spot for a garden in the spring. This place was everything she had ever hoped for and Ben was there to share it with her. She hoped that she could make Ben see this place as such. A blessing in disguise.

She then walked back around to the front and watched as Ben and the driver carried the last trunk inside. Lydia had fled Setauket with Ben with nothing more than the clothes on her back, his letters in her satchel, and the few items of jewelry that were hers. General Washington had heard her plight and his wife made sure she had plenty of provisions. Lydia kept up a correspondence with Mrs. Washington, which was likely why they had such comfortable lodgings.

Lydia climbed the stairs of the porch and settled herself on the porch swing. She removed her gloves and set them on the bench beside her. Then, she did the same with her hat. She hated wearing things on her head. In her own home, she wouldn't wear headpieces unless she knew someone was going to call.

The carriage driver exited the house and tipped his hat at Lydia.

"Thank you!" Lydia called after him.

He nodded his head once more before he closed the gate behind him and found his spot atop his carriage once more. Lydia watched as he pulled away and listened until the sound of the horses' clip-clop had completely faded. It was still several more minutes before Ben poked his head out the door to look at her.

"Are you coming in?" he asked her with a quizzical expression on his face. "You'll catch a chill if you stay out here much longer, Lyddie."

Lydia stood on her feet and wiped her hands against her cloak. "I was waiting for you," she told him with a smile.

"Why?"

She rested her hands on her hips and looked at her husband incredulously. "You might not like it that we're in Boston, Benjamin but that doesn't change the fact that this is still our first home, just the two of us. I fully intend on doing things properly. A husband carries his wife across the threshold of their first home."

Ben looked a bit sheepish as he closed the distance between him and Lydia. "You're right," he said before he reached down to pick Lydia up. Lydia reached up and held onto him by his shoulder while he swung her legs up to carry her bridal style. Ben held her for a moment, keeping eye contact with her. "I don't want to be here, but that's no excuse for forsaking my husbandly duties."

Lydia smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm glad you see things my way."

Ben chuckled before he placed a kiss against her temple. "I'll kiss you proper-like when we're in our home," he whispered in her ear.

Her cheeks flushed at his words, which made his chest rumble with laughter. She snuggled her head against his shoulder and Ben then carried her across the threshold of their first home. He kicked the door closed behind them with his foot. "Now, Mrs. Tallmadge, I'm going to kiss you," he stated matter-of-factly.

True to his word, Ben gently kissed his wife. Their first kiss as husband and wife in their first home. Lydia's heart fluttered as Ben rested his forehead against hers and he softly smiled at her. "If I have to be in Boston, I'm glad it's with you," he told her.

"I won't let Caleb know you said that," Lydia teased.

"He already knows."

Lydia laughed and moved to swing from Ben's arms, but he held onto her tighter. She arched an eyebrow and looked at her husband in confusion. "Since you had to remind me, I ought to carry you over every threshold just to be safe."

"Benj," Lydia laughed, throwing her head back against his shoulder.

But he was serious. So, Lydia just held onto him as he paraded her around the great room. The room was already furnished with a sofa and chairs and there was a fire gently roaring in the fireplace. Lydia knew that they would spend their evenings in front of the fire. Perhaps reading.

Ben then took her back to the kitchen, where she would cook their meals. The pantry was already stocked. There was soup simmering in a pot and a loaf of bread on the table. Someone had seen to it that they were looked after. Next, they found the dining room which had a large table and chairs. If they made friends, they could host dinner parties.

They walked back through the great room once more before stepping into what would be Ben's study. The previous tenant had left books on the shelves. Lydia eagerly looked forward to being able to read them.

Ben then mounted the stairs, practically running up them with Lydia in his arms.

"Benj!" Lydia squealed in laughter, which made Ben chuckle in response.

At the top of the stairs, Ben stopped to look both left and right before he smirked at his wife. He carried Lydia to the right, the room with the bed made and a fire crackling. Like the downstairs door, Ben kicked the door behind them before he tossed Lydia onto the bed.

"What about the other room? Don't I get to see that one?" Lydia asked in a giggle as Ben leaned over the top of her, trapping her on the bed. He kissed her and then slowly pulled away.

"Later," Ben said huskily. "I can't forsake my other husbandly duties any longer."