Title: Second Chances
Rating: T
Summary: Everyone deserves a second chance… but some make better use of it than others. Takes place right after the episode "Ken 10," but AU. Ben 10,000 x Gwendolyn.
A/N: Inspired by the episode "Ken 10."
This story will make more sense if you read my story, "Choices" first. It also takes place at the same time as my story, "Fathers and Sons." Originally it was all just one story, but I decided to separate it into two stories focusing on different themes.
Devlin looked around the room in awe. The den was comfortably furnished with overstuffed sofas, an armchair, pillows, floor cushions and even a beanbag in the corner. On the shelves above, there were trophies, medals and awards everywhere. They didn't seem to be in any particular order but were arranged in an artistic fashion. Devlin couldn't help but be impressed. Kenny's mom had several ribbons and trophies in gymnastics, karate and dance. A framed certificate proclaimed her as valedictorian of her high school, while some others showed that she had won the science fair multiple times. Kenny's dad had soccer trophies, hoverboarding awards and countless medals for saving the universe, of course.
There were also pictures all over the walls, and it seemed like the entire wall opposite from the door was dedicated to the summer when Ben 10K had found the Omnitrix.
Devlin stopped to stare at a picture of Kenny's mom and dad, taken when they were 10 years old. "Why is your dad wearing antlers?"
"Beats me," said Kenny, who had flopped into the armchair. His little sister Xenia was perched on a nearby sofa.
"And what's a jackalope?" he asked, moving on to the next picture.
"It's a jackrabbit with the antlers of an antelope," Xenia said in a superior tone. "That's why Daddy's wearing antlers. He got them at the souvenir shop."
Devlin gave Kenny a bewildered look.
Kenny shrugged. "Mom and Dad went to some really weird places with Great-Grandpa Max when they were kids."
"No kidding." The next picture featured the "Sideways Motel," with them standing… sideways. He tilted his head to examine it more closely.
There were pictures of Kenny's parents together at all ages, and on the other walls, more recent family photos that included Kenny and Xenia.
"Did your mom and dad go to Prom together?" Devlin asked suddenly, pointing to portrait of them in formalwear. They looked about 17.
"Not really. Mom went with Eddie Grand Smith – "
"Edwin Grand Smith, the billionaire?" Devlin interrupted.
"Yeah. Mom and Dad are good friends with him," Kenny told him.
"He designed Fort DNA-X," Xenia added.
"Your mom dated Edwin Grand Smith but decided to marry your dad instead?" Devlin was incredulous.
"What's wrong with my dad?" Kenny said defensively. "My dad is the greatest hero ever! Mom thinks so too!"
"I can't believe your mom dated Edwin Grand Smith. He isn't just rich; he's also a genius!"
"And really good-looking!" Xenia threw in.
Kenny snorted. "Mom didn't really date him. They were just friends. Mom says she was always crazy about Dad."
"Uh-huh." Devlin wasn't convinced, but he let it go. "So why do your mom and dad have a prom picture if they didn't go together?"
"I was trying to explain, before you interrupted." Kenny gave him a good glare, but Devlin didn't look at all apologetic. "Mom went with Eddie," he continued, "and Dad went with one of Mom's friends."
"Who really liked Eddie," Xenia giggled.
"Oh." Devlin decided he'd better changed the subject because Kenny was looking peeved.
The next thing that caught his eye looked like the front cover of a newspaper – a tabloid, really – matted and framed. It depicted Kenny's mom and dad wearing sunglasses, holding hands and walking down the street, surrounded by photographers. The caption screamed, "Gwen's Baby Bump?"
"Mom and Dad were being hounded by the paparazzi for a while when they were first together," Kenny said by way of explanation.
"Was she really pregnant?"
"Nah. You know how the tabloids are."
"Why did they frame it?"
"They thought it was funny."
"Mommy didn't think it was so funny," Xenia reminded him. "Remember? She said that when the tabloids printed stories like that, Grandma Lily and Grandma Sandra would always call her to ask, 'Are you pregnant? I saw it on the cover of "Star!"'"
"Dad thought it was funny then," Kenny amended. "Mom thinks it's funny now."
Devlin moved on to the next wall, which featured birthday and holiday celebrations. In the center was a large frame with a collage of pictures from birthdays, from the day they were actually born, to the most recent celebration.
"Mommy and Daddy have the exact same birthday, so they always celebrate together," Xenia said.
Kenny got out of his chair, and gestured for them to move further down the wall. "And here are the pictures from my birthday party!" he said proudly.
He had just turned 10 a few days ago, and his dad had already hung up the pictures.
Devlin suddenly felt very sad. He had no pictures of his family. No baby pictures. He'd never had a birthday party and wasn't even entirely sure when his birthday was.
All he'd ever wanted was to have a family.
And now that the Tennysons had taken him in, he had his greatest wish.
But…
He worried he wouldn't fit in, and that he would never truly be part of their family.
(To be continued in Chapter 2…)
