Chapter 22

We told Gwen and Kevin what happened and eventually the rest of the family. The last person left to explain things to was Harmione herself. It was late at night and Harmione was in her room playing with her dolls. She carried on as if nothing was wrong. And honestly there wasn't a thing wrong with her, she just needs help controlling her powers. Powers, Hope and I thought she'd never have.

5 years ago, after Harmione was born we stayed in the hospital for a couple of days. Breastfeeding might be a natural thing but it didn't come naturally to Hope. Seeing as this was our first baby, she was really worried about it. After the first few feedings everything was fine until Hope got mastitis. Her breasts were really sore so they started pumping the milk to be put in bottles instead. Hope got discouraged but was too sick with infection to care. After a round of antibiotics she did get better; though in the meantime the one to feed Harmione was a couple of nurses and me.

I remember lying back in a chair. I had my shirt off with Harmione pressed up against my chest. As she lied on me, feeling the warmth of my body, a nurse gave me a bottle to feed her. It was the first time I would, but it certainly wasn't the last. I sat up and took the bottle, then crossed my legs. I positioned her in my lap and gave the bottle to her. She was so little then. Kinda like she is today. So innocent. I remember her fingers curled and her nails were just as sharp as they could be. She didn't have any hair, and her eyes were a darker magenta almost grey. She was 7 pounds but still looked so under developed. As she sucked from the bottle I remember telling her:

"Harmione...Mommy loves you...Daddy loves you...Harmione you're so loved...I promise I'll always be there for you."

I remember I rubbed her bald head with the fringe in my bangs. I got a coo and a smile out of it. I still don't think she understood what I said, but it meant the world for her to have such a strong connection with me. She's certainly Daddy's girl.

Presently and personally I don't know if she'll still be Daddy's girl if I tell her the truth. It's not something a normal parent would say to a normal child. Maybe we aren't normal but we're perfectly imperfect. I stepped into her room and I heard her giggle. Harmione's always been a happy child. She knows no fear, she hardly cries, She's strong and independent. She's just like her mother. But just like her mother one thing I never wanted to do was break her heart.

Would this destroy her? Would she be afraid? Would she cry? And that's only if she understood. She's bright but would she really understand? Hope was right. I'm scared for her too. I know as long as I'm here she'll be alright, but how can I be so sure. How do I tell her? What do I say? Where do I begin? I knew one day I'd have to tell her but I didn't think I'd have to tell her now. What do I do?

"Daddy!" Harmione shouts snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Do you want to play?" She asks holding up one of her dolls.

"Uh...actually sweetheart come here, Daddy has to tell you something."

Harmione placed her dolls down and walked over to me, her hair was in a slight pigtail mess from her afternoon nap, she had on a long night shirt and panties. She looked ready for bed and I wanted to put here there and just leave her, but I had to be honest with her.

"Am I in trouble?" She asked and bit her lip.

"No...no you're not in trouble." I grunted loudly as I picked her up and tossed her on the bed. To lightly start things off I lied down next to her and tickled her stomach. She giggled and tried to pry my hand away. I laughed with her.

"Okay..." I sighed. "Comfy?"

Harmione nodded back swiftly and presumed to chew on her finger. I scoffed and lowered her hand.

"Don't do that, you sicko." I mocked playfully. She laughed again. I stiffled a laugh and grabbed her hand.

"Yesterday at the pizza place...you remember how you acted and you got kinda sore."

She only nodded and played with my wedding band. I took it off and gave it to her.

"Am I going to the doctors?"

I smiled. She was smart enough to know something was wrong.

"No...but did that scare you?"

Her smile disappeared and she nodded.

"It did?"

I stroked her head.

"Well pumpkin...I'm going to show you something...and when I do...its just me okay...okay?"

She played with my ring and began to ignore me.

"The best way to do this is to show you... So...Harmione, listen at me."

I took my ring back and put it back on. She watched me closely.

"Just watch me...okay?"

"Okay Daddy." She answered. My breath quickened and I felt my heart pounding out of my chest. There was a ringing in my ears and I could feel heat radiating across my face. Sweat found its way to my brow as I stood.

"Don't be afraid." I told her as I spun the dial on the Omnitrix. Harmione's eyes were transfixed on me. I took a deep breath before a blinding green flash changed me into Spidermonkey. My four eyes peered at her and she sat up in bed her mouth wide.

"Harmione..." I spoke out in Spidermonkey's voice. "It's me..."

She backed up and stumbled off the bed. She let out a whimper.

"No...Har, it's me." I said again. I began to see a lining of tears in her eyes. I reached out to her slowly. She backed away. This was what I was afraid of. Suddenly Harmione let out a scream. Hope entered the room immediately. We had a plan to show Harmione the truth separately, as to not frighten her more; so I asked Hope to stand in the hall as back up. Harmione ran right to her. She squealed and cried into Hope's arms. I jumped from the bed, and with my 6 limbs on the ground I crept slowly over to them.

"No, Harmione sweetie it's Daddy!" Hope yelled over Harmione's cries.

Hope squated down and held out her hand.

"Look he's not going to hurt you...it's Daddy...look you see."

Hope grabbed my hand tightly and swung it back and forth. Harmione after hiding her face in Hope's chest finally turned to look at me. She gazed upon one of my 12 fingers and at my wedding ring. She slowly reached for my hand and then patted my fur.

"See..." Hope replied sweetly. "He's soft isn't he?"

At the moment I didn't mind being treated like some zoo animal or sheep in a petting zoo, at least Harmione stopped crying.

"Harmione..." I spoke out again. "You want to come to Daddy?"

I tried to be as less creepy as possible. I held out my front limbs and Harmione reached for me. I gently took her away from Hope. She held tight to my neck and stroked my head. Hope grinned at us.

Harmione looked into my eyes and I caressed her face.

"Daddy." She finally responded.

"Yes." I said gently and turned back into myself. Harmione still had her arms around my neck and I continued to stroke her face. She embraced me and hugged me tightly. I stood up and placed my hand on the back of her head. I kissed her cheek.

"Why are you a monster Daddy?" Harmione whispered.

"It's not a monster...its an alien baby."

"Why though?"

I put Harmione down and showed her the Omnitrix. I attempted to explain what it was as best I could. I even let her play with the dial for her to turn me into whatever she wanted. Her smile finally returned. Once again, I wasn't sure she understood but it meant the world for her to have a stronger connection with me. She even agreed to keep my powers and watch a secret. She calls it "The Um Neat Tricks."

The next morning I found her in the yard pretending to fight aliens as Big Chill.

"I'm Big Chill!" She screamed. "It's time for some snow!"

I watched as she spread out her arms and pretended to fly. It was a relief to see her like that. It was a relief for her to know. But that left Hope. Harmione could pretend to be Daddy all she wanted but she had Mommy's powers and Mommy has to tell her the truth.

I heard our doorbell and when I opened the door there stood Gwen.

"Hey Ben."

"Hey...I...I've been thinking and maybe I should help Harmione with her powers."

"Uh...yeah...thanks Gwen but we haven't told her yet and-"

"Well...when you do...I know some stuff too...and I don't want to leave you in the dark this time."

"Thanks Gwen..."

I gave a shy smile.

"Oh she's in the backyard if you want to see her."

"Yeah!" Gwen retorted. "I always want to see my Harmy."

Gwen put her purse on the couch and left for the backyard. I smiled and walked down the hall to the bedroom when I heard the shower running. I knocked on the door.

"Gwen's here."

There was no answer.

"Hope?"

"It's not locked." I heard her voice reply. I entered and locked the door behind me.

"Well...now it is...what'cha doin?"

Hope sat bare on the shower floor with her head in her knees.

"I...I'm just...just trying to find the right words to say that's all..."

"If I can tell her...you can tell her, you saw how she reacted but she understood...it'll be fine."

"But she thinks you're a hero...that's not me Ben!"

"What?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"

I opened the shower door and grabbed her arms.

"Come on get up...you're not just gonna sit there and-"

"No!" Hope shouts and pulls away from me. "You're not me okay...you didn't lie...and steal...and kill with your powers...you didn't have Hex chasing after you!"

"Ah...Christ, Angel...you think Harmione will understand any of that?! She's still too little...just tell her about your powers...and show her how to use hers."

"Like it's that easy!"

I stroked my fingers through my bangs.

"You want me to tell her the truth...that's the truth...and I hate how rotten it sounds but...I was never a Plumber...I wasn't on your side...I tried to kill Gwen...I tried to kill you...I killed my own Uncle!"

I got in the shower fully clothed and grabbed her arms.

"You escaped!" I yelled into her face. "You survived, you did what you had to do, you're not a killer...you and your powers are nothing to be afraid or ashamed of!"

She stared into my soul as the water ran over us.

"People change I know that now...you know that...but Angel you've never had to change for Harmione...this is the you she knows, this is the you she trusts, this is the you she loves...it might not be the whole truth; you're right, but that part of your life doesn't exist...Charmcaster is dead and all that's left of her is Hope."

Hope tears up. It had been a while since I'd seen this side of her. A vulnerable side, that could shatter like glass just by touch.

"You've pushed past everything that's been thrown your way...I know it wasn't easy...and training Harmione will be even harder, but I trust you...I know you...I've seen the real strong you and once you get over this hurdle you'll show it to me again."

"It's always you to pull me up when I can't stand isn't it?" She replies through tears.

"Because of you my life is forever charmed...I'll never give up on you...ever."

"God...I love you."

"I love you too Angel."

Though wet she grabbed my jacket and pulled me close to her. We kissed passionately under the water. From there, I pulled her to her feet as she continued to kiss me. It was difficult to pull off my jacket and shirt while I was wet but I managed.

I backed her up into the shower wall. She pecked the side of my lip before kissing me again, placing her tongue in my mouth. I smirked into the kiss. The bathroom mirror had grown tinted by the steam in the background. Hope fondled my belt as I continued to kiss her.

I ran my hand down her stomach and began to gently stroke her between her legs. She groaned into my mouth, and she ran her hand down the front of my boxers. I gave a slight grunt into the next kiss as our lips locked again.

"Ben?!" I heard Gwen shout.

I grunted furiously as I pulled away from the kiss.

"Yeah!?"

"Harmione said she's thirsty, where do you keep her sippy cups?!"

"Be right- Mmm...Hope wait a minute...Be right- Ohhhh. I gasped.

I quickly removed Hope's hands from my pants and held them. She smirked.

"I'll show you!" I shouted back at Gwen.

"Okay!"

Hope smiled widely. I kissed her and stepped out of the shower.

"Finish your shower...then we have to tell Harmione the truth...we can tell her together, okay?"

"Okay." Hope breathed.

"Okay." I replied back and grabbed a towel. "Hold on Gwen!"

"Ben!" Hope exclaimed loudly.

I turned to face her.

"I love you."

"I love me too." I responded with a smile.

Hope scoffed. I walked over to her and kissed her cheek.

"I love you too, Angel...so...so...much."