Ben woke the next morning. Realization slowly dawned on him that he needed to find out where he was...and what date it was.
He looked at his wrist. He didn't have the omntirix. So either he was still where he'd gone to sleep or he was back at the beginning...again.
About then Gwen was waking to. She got out of her bunk and looked over to Ben. "Well looks like your still here." She walked over to him and gave him a hug adding, "I'm glad."
He smiled at her. "So am I."
They walked to the table together, Ben looked over and confirmed that Max has the Omnitrix.
"Well, Ben," Max said, "Glad to see your still with us."
"Thanks Grandpa, so am I."
"We'll have to do some more training with plumber and alien weapons. You really seem to have the knack for it."
They continued their road trip with stops for training, fun stops and, of course, the occasional need for a team of heroes.
They encountered another set of heroes in the Galactic Enforcers. Max, however, was the only one acknowledged by the enforcers as a hero. Gwen and Ben had to stay behind while Max was given a tour of their HQ.
"Looks like we've been relegated to sidekick status." Gwen commented with some annoyance.
"Yeah as far as the galactic enforcers are conserved."
"That doesn't bother you."
"A little maybe, But Grandpa doesn't see us that way."
Gwen smiled. "Wow Ben you really are maturing. I like it."
He smiled at her, "Here," he said breaking off a piece of his candy bar. "Have a piece of chocolate while we wait."
She returned his smile as she savored the chocolate, and the growing bond between her and Ben.
The heroic trio continued their travels and their fights with aliens and criminals. The eventually ran into Hex again, this time with his niece Charmcaster. As Max made expert use of the Omnitirx Gwen and Ben managed to get Hex's staff, playing "Keep away" from the enraged sorcerer and his niece, using it against them.
Max didn't fail to notice that his grand-kids had been able to use the sorcerer's staff, though they didn't seam to be thinking about it.
In the end Hex and Charmcaster had been defeated and the charms were in the possession of the Tennysons.
Later, in the rustbucket Max walked over to the table as the kids were looking at the charms, trying to decide who would carry which one.
"Well, you can't be lucky girl without the luck charm so that's yours. I also think you should have the resurrection one"
Gwen answered, "I was thinking luck, the keystone and telekinesis. It would be so cool to fly."
"Okay. Take any that you want but please take the resurrection charm, please."
She gave him a puzzled look, but she thought she knew what he was thinking.
He continued. "I...can't risk loosing you okay. This can bring you back if it's needed."
She almost protested that she had the same concern about him but, supposing it was just the desperate expression on his face, she decided this time to let him have his way. Then she said a silent prayer that she wouldn't regret that someday.
"Okay, how about I take the luck, resurrection and the keystone and you take Pyro, telle and electro."
"Okay done." Ben said.
With that decided, Max had a subject to approach. "Well kids, you did a great job back there. You handled that staff like pros."
"Thanks Grandpa." they said in unison.
"And that," Max continued, "brings me to another subject. Not just anyone can use a magic talisman like that. It's time for you to learn about your Grandma."
That got the kids attention. Max started. "Her name was Elizabeth. Phil and I were after an alien fugitive. His home planet knew he was hiding on earth and had asked for our help. Wanting good relations with them, and not wanting an criminal alien roaming earth, the plumbers had agreed to help.
We had tracked him down and had him cornered, but you know what they say about a wounded animal. He told us he had no intention of being taken alive. Then he pulled out a vile about the size of a pen. He told us it was an explosive that could level most of that city.
We'd been told that he had stolen just such an explosive, so we were in a stand off.
Well, as Phil and I were trying to decide what to do we heard him yelling. The vile had been taken out of his hand and was floating away. We didn't wait, we moved in and took him into custody easily.
After he was taken away by some other plumbers we met our unexpected ally."
Ben and Gwen could see Max's expression change as, in his memories he relived his first meeting with his wife.
"She was so beautiful. There was a kindness in her eyes, but strength to." He turned to Gwen. "You bear a strong resemblance to her Gwen."
He continued. "I introduced myself and my partner. She introduced herself, Elizabeth Macbeth. She'd seen what was happening and thought she might be able to help.
I told her she was certainly right about that. It was then I asked if I could treat her to dinner in thanks. Fortunately for me, she accepted."
Max couldn't help but notice that Gwen, caught up in the romantic story, had moved her hand over Ben's. He'd need to talk to them soon about what seamed to be happening, and if they really wanted that to happen.
For now he went on with the story.
"At dinner I told her a little about myself and asked how she'd done what she did with that vial.
She told me that she came from a long line of magic users, she claimed going all the way back to Merlin.
Well, I could spend all day and then some telling you about those days but suffice to say it wasn't long before I went on one knee and presented her with a ring.
I'm telling you this not just for the sake of a romantic story but to tell you that this may be why you two were able to use Hex's staff. You probably inherited magic ability from your grandmother."
"That is so awesome." Gwen said. Ben added. "But why can't our dads do it."
Max smiled. "They probably could if they tried. But they don't know it."
Ben asked, "Why didn't you ever tell them."
Max's expression fell, "I didn't want to lose them they way I lost Elizabeth. I just told them she became sick and passed away. The truth is she was killed by a group called the forever knights. They've decided that it's there job to protect the earth form aliens and magic users." Max looked at his grandkids, "She would have been so proud to see the two of you."
"We will make her proud Grandpa." Ben said, to which Gwen added, "We'll make both of you proud."
"I know you will. Lets get some dinner...Then I have something else I want to talk to you about.
