Part One: Their First Drink

(A BWEN Fanfiction)

It was New Years six years after their first road trip with Grandpa Max. Ben walked into his aunt and uncle's house with a grin on his face. The boy of ten grew into a budding man. His shoulders were broad and they served to only draw attention to Ben's physique. The teen's muscles lightly stood out of Ben's shirt and pants; they were not extreme as if Ben were a bodybuilder, but Max's training caved the boy into a well-built teen of five and three quarters feet tall. The teen politely smiled at his aunt and uncle and exchanged hellos and how are you's. Ben was fine until Lily reached and hugged him. In his gut, Ben knew something was different as she hugged him, and for some reason, his battle instincts fought for control at the contact. What's up with you, Ben? Ben questioned in his mind. She's not Vilgax or Animo. Cool it! When his aunt let go after what seemed like an eternity, Ben's instincts base lined back to normal. "That was odd." Ben mumbled under his breath.

As Frank shook Ben's hand, Gwen walked up. Ben's breath caught. She was beautiful as always. Her orange hair hung down to her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with a shine they only had around him. Her lips were not painted, but they still had a sheen to them Ben recognized as lip gloss. Ben was a respectful man, but he took in the rest of her with a happy sigh. The years were definitely kind to her and only seemed to make her beauty shine still stronger to him, When she noticed him staring Gwen shyly broke eye contact and pretended to focus on her magic ring on her right hand, twisting it with a hidden smile as nerves showed. Her father noticed the small look and wondered exactly why Ben made Gwen so nervous the more he saw of them together. For a moment, Frank thought his daughter was crushing on Ben. Then, as quickly as the thought rose in his mind, he shot it down with a dismissive hand and shake of his head.

Frank's fleeting thought was closer to the truth than he would ever know. Ben and Gwen were happy to gather with their family for the turning of a new year, but both harbored hidden feelings, feelings they feared to express. As Ben walked up to Gwen, he blushed slightly. "Hey, Gwen. How were finals?" She smiled at him. "I aced them all." Ben felt a grin tug at his lips. "As I expected, Dweeb," Ben told her with a playful hit on the arm. Gwen raised an eyebrow at the punch. "What about you, Doofus?" She asked. Ben nodded. "Same as you. Thanks for helping me. Trig was kicking my butt." She grinned at him. "I'm glad to help." Ben cleared his throat with a nervous laugh. He noticed the glasses of cider on the kitchen counter and gave one a long look.

"I never got the point of New Years," Ben mumbled. Gwen giggled at him. "It's a celebration of new beginnings and an open future." Ben wasn't sure, but he thought he heard a hint of sadness in her voice. He opened his mouth to ask about it, but Ben's completely smashed Mom decided that moment to voice her discontent at Ben and Gwen's sobriety and handed them both a glass of cider. Ben and Gwen both politely accepted the drinks but put them to the side for the moment. Ben smiled at Gwen. "I dare you to drink." Ben said with a smirk. For the first time that night, Gwen truly smiled. Ben enjoyed her heartfelt and genuine smiles because Gwen's entire body seemed to shine when she was truly happy. "You're on!" Gwen said as her eyes showed with youthful glee. Ben downed his glass and grimaced at the bite of the alcohol as it ran down his throat. The funny expression coaxed a laugh from Gwen. Then, she drank, and Karma sucks because Gwen grimaced and coughed. "Oh…god!" She groaned out. Ben laughed. "Don't tell me Gwen Tennyson is unable to take her cider." Gwen glared at him. "Don't challenge me, Doofus. You'll lose." Ben raised an eyebrow as Gwen knocked back two glasses of cider. Not to be outdone, Ben shot gunned three glasses.

To say they were drunk by this point would not be quite accurate, but they were close. Gwen's face suddenly fell, and she shivered. "W-what is it?' Ben asked in worry. Gwen looked at him in eyes. "Not here." Gwen said as she led Ben to her room, closed the door, and clumsily locked it behind them. "Mom…used to beat me and slap me around if…I brought home less than a B. She now expects A's and nothing less." Gwen fumbled with a sleeve for a moment before it started to retreat up her arm to reveal bruises: some old and yellowing, others fresh and dark purple. Ben looked at Gwen's arm in shock. "Why didn't Uncle…?" Ben started to ask. Gwen shook her head. "Mom told me if I showed him, I would live to regret it." Ben took Gwen's hands gently in his. His eyes showed with a storm of emotions. "Gwen…if all she wants is perfection, t-that won't happen." Gwen looked down, but Ben gently raised her chin with a finger. "You are…already…perfect." As Ben spoke he inched closer and closer to her lips. Then, it happened. Their lips touched! Gwen quickly pulled away as her mind tried to grasp what just happened. Then, she closed the gap with a smile and kissed him as tears fell from her eyes in joy.

The shattering of a door sobered Ben and Gwen up almost instantly. "M-mom?!" Gwen gasped as she began to shake in fear. There, standing a mist of a small sea of splintered wood was Lily. Ben calmly stepped in front of Gwen and tensed. If Lily wants a battle, she'll get a war! Ben promised in his mind as he dared Lily to make a move. The ruckus roused Max to the scene. "Grandpa, you better get Lily out of here before I send her to the ICU." Max looked at Lily and started to drag her outside. "What are you doing, Max?!" Lily shrieked. "He's just a slacker asshole who is sick! Why would you listen to him?" Max smiled slightly in an "I knew it!" fashion. Then, the smile vanished. "We've gone through Hell together. You, however, only married my son and are not worthy of my trust by what you've done to Gwen. I'll make sure they put you under the jail!" Max said with a deadly glare as he loaded her in the Rustbucket. As Max drove away, the clock in the center of town chimed midnight. "Happy New Year, Dweeb." Ben said happily. Gwen looked up at him as she leaned into his chest, and smiled. Then, her eyes shown and she gasped as if she forgot something. Gwen turned to Ben and kissed him passionately. "Happy New Year, Doofus."

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