Maiden- I'd like to thank TheFifthCharmedOne for being so encouraging. You rock!
Shifting Sands
Chapter 9- Kiss It Goodbye
Vera barely registered anything Albedo was telling her. Gold eyes transfixed on the boy standing by his side. She was shocked that Rider was, literally, the carbon copy of her own son. But she should've expected that, considering Albedo's DNA was now infected with Ben's.
"Are you okay, Veridian?" the white haired man asked, finally noticing Vera's absentmindedness. This seemed to snap her out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, just thinking."
"What about?"
"You never told me you had a child." the words spilled from her mouth before her brain could filter through it.
"I know...Rider has been living with his mother on Pyrus ever since she was released from the Null Void eleven years ago. When she heard of my release, she came to earth to give me custody of Rider. Saying she had had enough of being a mother."
"That's awful. What kind of person can say such a thing!" Vera's voice thick with hatred. "Then again, we are talking about a Pyrian. Such disgusting creatures."
"But isn't your friend a Pyrian? The small one with the red hair?"
"You mean Scarlet?" Albedo nodded. "She'd kill you if she heard you say that. No, Scar is an Avian. Thunderbirds can be any multitude of colors. Just because her Thunderbird form has red feathers doesn't mean she's a creature of fire."
"It seems you harbor hard feelings for Pyrians."
"Not just me, my whole race. Pyrians like to fight before they think, always quick to judge and throw the first punch. Not a very intelligent race."
"I see. So, have you made up with your husband yet?"
"I suppose. I haven't totally forgiven him yet, but I'm willing to give him a second chance. But the more I think about it, the more sure I am of our marriage actually falling apart."
"Why would that be? I thought you loved him?"
"I do. It's just I don't think he loves me the same way. I think he's still in love with Julie, even if he doesn't want to admit it. And I believe the only thing keeping him here is our kids. I know he feels guilty about not being there for them lately and he's trying to make it up to them. Kenny should be fairly easy to persuade, but I'm afraid Amber will be a totally different story."
"The child can hold I grudge, I take it?"
"You have no idea. Amber takes after me in more than I'd like to admit. She doesn't forgive too easily."
Albedo nodded, signaling he understood. It was all starting to become clear to him now. Even though the Tennysons were talking again, it didn't fix the fact their marriage was still rocky. Albedo remembered little of the japanise girl Vera spoke so lowly of. But he did remember all the times she'd hung around Ben, Gwen and Kevin. Truth be told, he'd honestly forgotten about her once she'd moved back to Japan all those years ago and Vera appeared. In his opinion, the goth Thunderbird was a much more desirable creature. His ruby eyes went downcast, towards his son. Rider was seemingly staring openly at Veridian.
"Is she going to be my new mom?" the child suddenly asked, looking up to his father with innocent eyes. Vera coughed awkwardly, not expecting such a question while Albedo simply went red faced. "I really miss having a mother..." his innocent gaze then turned to a sorrowful one. Vera didn't hesitate to pick Rider up, cradling him like she would so often do to her own children. Rider stiffened if only for a moment before relaxing, hugging the woman for all he was worth.
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Amber laid back on her bed, finally having enough of her father for one day. Golden eyes closed in bliss because of the silence. Something rare these days. She blindly reached down to the floor and picked up a black book. Monster High was embossed on the cover in glittery pink letters. Amber loved the series because it made her feel like less of a freak of nature and more like a normal girl. She saw how the children of legendary monsters lived their lives like normal teenagers instead of being feared because of what they are.
Everyone at her school saw her as the troubled daughter of Ben 10K. Honestly, Amber couldn't care less what those kids thought of her. She had her family and that was all she needed. Amber's temper and icy demeanor often repelled others, but the half human girl couldn't help it. It was just how she was. She sighed and began to read, her eyes practically trying to eat the words off the page. She was so engrossed that she didn't hear her door open. It wasn't until she felt the mattress beneath her move, did she realize she wasn't alone. Golden eyes flickered up to a set that matched.
"Have a good day with dad?" Vera asked with a small smile. However, the smile was forced and didn't reach her eyes.
"No." Amber replied curtly, returning her eyes to the book. Vera sighed and reached up to grab the book.
"Am, I need to talk to you." her oldest child merely stared at her. "I...I met someone."
"Congratulations. You made a friend, now give me the book."
"Amber, it's not that simple!" Vera snapped. "He isn't really a friend. He's a little more than that."
"So you got a new boyfriend? About time. Now when are you gonna file for divorce?"
To say the least, Vera was shocked. Her eleven year old had been ready and waiting for a step parent! At least she had a little support...
"I want things to work out between your father and me, but the more I think about what he's done, and what he's capable of, the more I want to be rid of him."
"Then be rid of him." Amber replied, her eyes never leaving her mother's. "If you really like this new guy, and you're that fed up with dad, then move on."
It sounded so simple. Like pulling off a band-aid. But the scars it leaves behind may or may not heal.
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"Are you one hundred percent sure you want to do this, Mrs. Tennyson?" a middle aged man asked Veridian. He sat behind a mahogany desk, peering down at a packet of papers.
"Yes." Vera replied, feeling more sure than she'd had in a long time.
"Okay then, I'll just need your signature on a couple of pages, along with what your plans will be for child custody. Then, if Mr. Tennyson agrees, we'll go through Probate Court and make it final."
Vera picked up the black ink pen and signed her name down at the bottom of the page. After she'd put down basic information on her children, she returned the papers to her lawyer.
"Very good. I'll give you a call in a few days once I get this notarized by the judge. Then we'll serve Benjamin with his set of papers."
"Thank you, Mr. Montgomery."
"No problem, Veridian. I'm sorry about your marriage. You're one of the most well known women in the world, and I'm sure you'll have millions of people's support. Benjamin might be the hero of the universe, but behind every man, there is a brilliant woman."
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Ben wasn't sure what to think when the divorce papers got to him. He couldn't exactly say he hadn't thought of this possibility- he had agonized over the thought of losing Vera and the kids -but he was surprised it'd been Vera to make the first move. Not to ever dismiss his wife- soon to be ex-wife apparently -and her power, because she was a force to be reckoned with. However, he always assumed that Vera would be there, waiting... Maybe that was when their marriage had started to end... Ben realized he should have never taken the beautiful Avain for granted, realized what he was throwing away. It seemed to late for that, now, though. His heart wasn't in this relationship, it wasn't even in keeping his wife; his only real worry was his kids. Kenny wasn't much of a problem anymore. He'd reconnected with his omnitrix bearing son, taking a huge weight off Ben's shoulders. Amber, on the other hand, didn't seem like she wanted anything to do with him.
"I guess I should still be grateful Roxy can't talk yet." the green eyed man muttered to himself. He sat alone in his home office, staring at the pictures of his family from events past. A collage of Kenny, Amber and Roxy's births, pictures from his and Vera's wedding, one of himself, Vera, Kevin and Gwen from when they were still kids and some of Grandpa Max. Ben's heart ached knowing his grandpa was gone, wishing the wise old man could tell Ben what to do. He'd tried his cousin and best friend, but both were at a loss for advice. So the Ultimatrix wielder was on his on this time.
With a final saddened sigh, Ben picked up a pen and set to scrawl his name on the paper. But the second the point of the pen made contact with the paper, a voice called out.
"And what do you think you're doing?"
Ben whirled around in his chair to face Paradox.
"What do you want, time walker?"
"Always straight to the point, my dear Benjamin." the man grinned, plucking the pen from Ben's grasp. "If you sign this, there is no going back. It will be set in stone that you and Vera are no longer husband and wife."
"Yes, I think I understood that when I read the word 'divorce'." Ben deadpanned.
"I don't believe you understand me, Ben. What I'm trying to tell you, is that there are other forces at work here."
"And who might they be?"
"That, I can not tell you without disrupting the space time continuum."
"I really don't have time for your riddles, Paradox." Ben groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Do as you wish, but be aware that I've warned you." and the man was gone without another word.
