Gwen waited remote in hand, for Ben to get back form making the popcorn. It had been a fun night last night after the graduation ceremony; they had gone out with some friends and had plans to see Lucy and Eddy latter.
But for now she was enjoying the fact that it was just her and Ben. He had grown, taller, more muscular and more mature. Although, she supposed that he would always have a juvenile side, she kind if wanted it that way. Eight years ago she had seen what kind of man he would be without that side of himself. She loved him the way he was.
In the kitchen Ben was at work on the popcorn, he was adding the butter and thinking about another matter. I could put it in the popcorn, let her find it that way…Just my luck she'd choke on it, how romantic. He finished with the salt and brought the bowl into the living room; other matters would have to wait.
"So," Gwen said, "Why did you choose this movie? I've seen it before."
"I haven't seen it all the way through and a friend of mine says it's really good."
"Who is this friend?"
The one we met when we visited Israel, you remember doc, don't you?
"Oh, yea, so he likes this movie, huh."
"Yeah, let's start it." As he said that Gwen pressed play and the opening credits to 'Back to the future' started.
They sat and watched with Bens arm around Gwen and her head on his shoulder. It was really nice to sit her like this. No aliens, no crooks, no parents, just the two of them watching a movie and cuddling.
When the movie was over they cleaned up after themselves. Gwen thought back to when it would have been like pulling teeth to get Ben to clean his messes, she smiled. After the cleanup they sat down together again and talked.
"So, do we need to change our plans now that Grandpa will be getting married? "Gwen asked.
"No, I think they still want to let us stay with them while we're in college."
"Alright, as long as we don't interfere with their little love nest."
Ben laughed, "Well she seems to like us well enough."
"She should." Gwen shook her head. "Kind of funny, it was my dad who had a problem with us at first but yours who wasn't too sure about his new step mother."
"Yeah, I guess having a reptile for a step mom is a little too much for him. But she likes both of her step sons. He'll get used to her just like your dad got used to us"
"Maybe finding out that Xylene was going to be joining the family changed dad's perspective on us. I mean having an alien in the Christmas photo kind of puts the whole cousin thing in a different light."
"Yeah, I guess it would do that. Are you still trying to get a look at our futures?"
"Did the movie bring that to mind?"
Ben tried to imitate Doc Brown "Gwen, it's not good to know too much about you own future."
"Ha. Don't worry. It isn't working to well. There are so many possible futures that it's hard to tell which one is ours."
"Possible futures or do they all happen."
She was glad that questions like that occurred to him now. He was thinking the exact meaning of words before, he just would have made assumptions "As far as I can tell, they all happen in different timelines. And you wouldn't believe some of the things you and I end up doing in other realities."
"You'll have to tell me about it some time."
"I will, it'll be kind of fun to look at it together. By the way, are you nervous about being best man?"
"No, I'm proud that Grandpa wanted me; and I'm looking forward to dancing with the maid of honor." Ben closed the distance between them and put his arms around Gwen and began to guide her around the room.
She loved having his arms around her. "I'm looking forward to it to." she said and then stood on her toes, bringing her lips to his. They were both lost in the moment.
She sighed, "I'm so lucky to have you."
Ben couldn't resist. "Yeah, you are."
"You dweeb." She said, though she said it with a laugh.
"I'm the lucky one here." He said, "Having you is better that having all the charms of Bezel."
Now it was Gwen's turn. "I don't know, I'm not too sure about that."
"You shouldn't have said that while I'm holding you like this." He moved his hands up under her arms and started to tickle her. She yipped and ran away, with Ben following close behind. She ran into her room, first mistake, she didn't have anywhere to run. She threw a pillow at him and tried to go over her bed. That was mistake number two, now he had her by the ankle.
"NO, not there!"
"This little piggy went to market…"
"Haha, OKAY, I give up, you win…STOP."
Ben had made a resolution to himself when they had started dating, he would never take that word lightly. He stopped tickling her foot and looked down at her.
It didn't escape her notice how quickly he had stopped after she said that. She looked at him softly, touched by his concern for her. It was then that she made her own resolution, not to misuse that concern; she would only say 'STOP' when she really meant it, not when they were playing… Not even to avoid tickle torture.
"Let me give you something better to do." She pulled him down and held him tight as she kissed him."
"Your right, that is better." They continued their kiss and cuddle session until they heard her parents car pull in.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In a couple of months they had the wedding. Xylene's people didn't have a lot of formalities about romantic relationships but she wanted to honor Max's cultural traditions. It took some 'modifications' to get her in a human wedding dress. Ben had to admit, for a reptile, she was kind of pretty.
As the pastor led the wedding vows Ben and Gwen kept stealing glances at each other both imagining the day that they would be standing where Max and Xylene were now.
The reception would be the perfect time…Ben thought, but this is Grandpa and Xylene's day, we can't steal the spotlight. Then, it hit him. The perfect time, it would mean he'd need to have some patience but he could do it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In the first week of December they celebrated their birthdays together. Some of Max's old friends had come. Eddy, Cooper, Lucy, Kia and some of their alien friends were there.
Ben and Gwen simultaneously inhaled and blew out nineteen candles. Then it was time for gifts. They had received some very clever and thoughtful gifts from the others then the exchanged gifts to each other. Gwen gave Ben two gifts. The first was a gag, a toy Omnitrix. It had been one of the most popular toys for several years. The other was a set of four pictures in a frame that had, written at the top; 'My one and only'
Then Gwen opened hers. It was a roughly four inch square box, but very light. When she opened it she found it was mostly packing material. She began to think it was just a gag, an empty box. Then at the bottom of the box she found a diamond ring. She gasped, and when she looked over at Ben he was on one knee. He took her hand and said, "Gwen, I love you more than life itself, and I want to share the rest of mine with you…Will you marry me?"
With tears in her eyes she nodded, "Yes, Yes, I will."
The room burst into applauds as Ben got up and picked Gwen up for a Kiss. It was the most amazing evening of their lives…so far.
