The next morning came and went, and Ben Grimm was still avoiding a talk with Kaitlyn. He made her breakfast in silence and saw her off to school without a word. Kaitlyn was itching for a talk, hoping it would repair their broken friendship, but she didn't want to force it on him and instead waited for him to speak first; if it ever happened. J.J. greeted her when she got to school. She told him what happened and he comforted her, knowing that this was the situation she had feared and the reason she kept secrets in the first place.
Ben was moping around back at the Baxter Building. He had opened the fridge several times only to close it after realizing he still wasn't in the mood to eat. Susan had been watching and decided it was time to intervene.
"Don't know what to eat?" She asked.
"Not hungry." He replied.
"There's a first." She said, keeping her serious expression.
He looked over in her direction, "What am I gonna do, Suzie?" He asked.
"You could talk to her."
"I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything. Just listen. Let her explain." She paused and Ben lowered his head. "Remember when you thought her behaviour was a sign she didn't want to be your friend anymore?" Susan continued, "That's not the case. She wants to fix this as much as you do. Just give her the chance to do so." Susan stood and left Ben alone with his thoughts.
...
The school day ended and Kaitlyn made her way home with Kris. Raph had texted her, asking if she still wanted to meet up after school. She texted back saying she had to get home to hopefully patch things up with her Uncle. He understood and wished her luck. The twins got to the Baxter Building, greeted the doorman, and took the elevator up to the penthouse. When they got inside, Kaitlyn saw her Uncle sitting in the living room starring at the turned off television. Kris didn't notice, and instead took off towards his room to do anything but his homework.
"Uncle Ben?" Kaitlyn spoke up.
He jerked his head in her direction, "Kit Kat. You're home."
'He's calling me Kit Kat again. That's a good sign.' She thought.
"Yeah. What are you up to?" She asked, glancing at the TV.
"I was just thinking." He replied, "Come have a seat."
She went in and sat next to her Uncle. She removed her bag and set it next to her on the floor.
"First, I want to apologize for not giving you a chance to explain." Ben told her, "And I'd like to give you that chance now."
Kaitlyn smiled. He finally wanted to talk.
"Well," she began, "A little after I came to live here, I discovered I had powers. Telekinesis, intangibility, and super strength."
"Telekinesis is moving things with yer brain, right? But what's intangibility?" Ben asked.
"I can move through solid objects. Like Kitty Pryde from the X-school." Kaitlyn explained.
Her Uncle nodded.
"I started to train my powers," She continued, "And when that man who murdered my parents escaped, I went out to seek revenge. I become Mystery. That same night I met the guys. The turtles you met at Doom's castle. We became friends and then helped you defeat Doom a couple months ago."
"That was you guys makin' the 'bots fall?" Ben asked.
"Yeah." Kaitlyn replied, "Anyway, I've been going out on patrol with the turtles every night since. Which is why I've been sneaking out and not studying." She lowered her head slightly, "And the other day I did come home to tell you everything. I swear it's true. The only reason I didn't tell you for so long is that I was afraid you wouldn't let me be Mystery anymore. But I don't care about that now. I just want things to be the way they used to between us."
Ben starred at his niece. "I'll admit," He said after a moment, "I might have been too nervous to let you continue if you'd told me right away, but only because I don't want anything to happen to you. And it still doesn't make keeping it a secret the right thing to do. This is the sort of thing I need to know about."
"I understand, Uncle Ben." Kaitlyn told him.
"But now that I've seen you in action, I think I can let you continue." Ben added.
"Really!?"
"It's also a relief to know the reason you were pulling away wasn't because you were starting to hate me."
"Oh, Uncle Ben," Kaitlyn stood and hugged her Uncle, "I could never hate you. You're the best Uncle I could ever have."
Ben returned the hug, and for a long moment they stayed that way.
"However," Ben began, pulling out of the hug to face his niece, "There will have to be rules, and a new curfew. And I'll feel better if you get some extra training."
Kaitlyn nodded.
"I can take care of your super strength training," Ben continued, "And I'll have to talk to Professor X and the Avengers about possibly giving you private sessions."
Kaitlyn smiled bright and wrapped her arms around his neck, "You're the best, Uncle Ben."
"One last thing." He said.
"Yeah?"
"You have to invite your turtle friends over for dinner, so I can properly meet 'em."