Max and Verdona fell in love like one might find themselves falling into a good book. It was exceptionally easy and felt like it was the most natural thing in the world.

When they met it seemed like the clouds had finally parted to shine the sun directly onto them. Being in each others lives was natural, second nature even. Verdona kept coming back to earth to see Max, and for her to just settle down with him made sense.

Having their own kids also felt natural and seemed like the next step in their lives. So, when they had their boys, Verdona looked for any sign of Anodite powers from them. Sadly, her sons came up short of her expectations. She loved them regardless of it.

Max was working day in and day out as the king's knight and advisor. Naturally that meant his family also lived in the castle. Verdona raised her sons with the love and affection a mother should, and they got to see their father almost every day working with aliens and humans alike.

Their family sounded picture perfect on paper.

Carl and Frank, as they grew up, were nothing alike. Carl was obsessed with Max and the Plumbers, he loved what his father did and respected the days he could spend with Max in the office. Frank was the opposite; he silently watched his father work and noticed that sometimes Max spent weeks away from his family. Frank envied his brothers blind optimism, because he knew that one day, this work would take their father away...for good.

Around the time the boys were in their late teens, Verdona had gone back to her home planet of Anodine. She knew her family didn't need her as much and she wanted to reconnect with who she was. She thought she was losing touch with the mana and energy around her. Max didn't need her either and no matter how much life he had in him; he was still just a human. Verdona would out live him. They always knew that. She would come back, just when her family called for her.

When the two boys grew up and were married, with their own children, they lived within the city near the kingdom. That lasted for a while, the two brothers enjoying their separate lives, still only rarely seeing their father. Each had their own careers and were happily enjoying the kingdom their own father help carve.

When Frank had his first child, his parents came to visit him. Kenneth was a cute little baby boy with cubby features all over and bright red hair, like his grandmother. Verdona peaked when she saw that, but he also didn't have the spark of an Anodite. She gave her advice to her son about raising children and left. Promising to return for any future grandchildren.

Then Frank and Carl had children at the same time. Carl had a boy, who he named Benjamin, hair just as thick and brunette as Carl's. And Frank had a little girl, Gwendolyn, again with vibrant red hair. The two, ironically enough, shared a birthday. Again, Verdonna visited, but this time she stayed. She mentioned she would be around for a few years, just to be with her own grandchildren.

It wasn't until Frank fought with Max that the family dynamic started going south. Max wanted Ken to be the next one in the family to wield the Omnitrix. Max knew he was growing old, and his own sons were too old and had their own life paths to follow. So, he wanted to pick one of his grandchildren, and Ken was the oldest.

Frank threw a fit, the last thing he wanted was his own son to be inducted into a lifestyle that he wouldn't have a choice in. Frank would almost never see his son again, or worse, he'd die. Ken was also already showing signs, even at eight, that he was interested in technology and building things together. He didn't have a fighting bone in his body.

Frank packed up his family, had one last blow out with his father, and took his son and daughter to the edge of the kingdom. Verdona followed. Verdona stayed with Frank and his family for a few years, at least until Gwen was nine. Just long enough for Verdona to see if any of her grandchildren carried her bloodline. Turns out she was wrong about that, along with many other things in her lifetime.

Max himself, while saddened by his strained relationship with Frank, continued to try and find someone to pass on his legacy too. He asked Carl about Ben. Carl had the exact opposite reaction to Frank. Carl was ecstatic and was more than happy to see his son become a future Plumber.

Max took Ben to and from the castle many times, from the young age of four. That's how Ben even met Kevin. Once Ben turned ten, Max took him to live with him full time in the castle. Just in time for a royal coronation.

That's how the Tennyson's now ended up here, with the two cousins sitting in front of their grandparents in shock and disbelief.

After the story is told and over, the two grandparents look ashamed of themselves, for different reasons.

Ben and Gwen react differently to the bombarding of information. Ben's own thoughts are reeling at the fact that he always thought the Omnitrix was supposed to go to him, knowing he was the second choice... he feels ill. He feels saddened at never even knowing about Gwen. His own parents mentioned them in passing, but almost as if they were a disgrace to the family name. Ben never knew.

Gwen's own feelings are placed in anger and betrayal. She's furious at the people in front of her who are supposed to be her family. Family doesn't do this; families aren't supposed to fight and never see one another again. Her whole family, her entire life, has lied to her. Everyone except Ken.

Ken, who now could be anywhere, and should probably be here right now with her. Ken has always been her support system and he's the reason Gwen's sitting in this room right now.

Gwen knows she has to find Ken.

This feeling sits and stirs in stomach, it burns as it churns around. She doesn't know if she's ever felt such a burning inside of her. She wants to break something, scream, and cry all at once. She feels disgusted by her excitement from earlier, it feels tainted now.

Gwen stands up quickly, averting her gaze from anyone in the room, and starts moving toward the door.

"Gwen, sweetie-" Verdona holds her hand out to grab for Gwen.

Gwen whirls around, her eyes are bloodshot from holding back her own angry tears.

"What? What could you, any of you, possibly have to say to me right now?" She screams at them. Her voice breaks as a few tears break the threshold. She wipes them away furiously.

The room is silent as they all stare at her, Ben's own face is crumbling as he watches Gwen break down and realize what her own family has hidden from her.

"Do either of you even know that my parents are gone? Do you?" Gwen's accuses them the hurt is evident in her voice.

Max and Verdona's faces fall in shock at Gwen's words.

"Gwen, when did this happen?" Max asks the girl softly, but he doesn't move any closer.

Gwen scoffs at the two of them, "Oh please. I don't need this right now. Of course, you two didn't know, why would you?" She throws her hands up in exhaustion, "If this is what you all call family... I don't want to be a part of it." her tone is sharp as she glares ferociously at the pair.

Verdona grabs a hold of Gwen by her shoulders, "Gwen you don't mean that! I'm supposed to teach you, we can work this out. Please sit back down." Verdona pleads with her granddaughter.

"No! No, I'm going to find my brother." Gwen rips herself away from her grandmother. She starts to back away from her, "He's the only one who has ever bothered to look out for me! I don't belong here and I'm a fool to believe I ever did." she says intensely.

She storms to the door pulling it open, she gives one last genuine smile to Ben, "I'm sorry Ben." She slams the door behind her.

Ben shoots up out of his own chair after her, his own feelings are muddy and confusing, but he knows one thing. He doesn't want to lose Gwen.

Max nor Verdona try to stop him as he runs after her. The two are too overcome by their own share of mistakes.

"Gwen, Gwen please wait!" Ben screams after her as her figure runs down the corridor.

Gwen stops and turns to see Ben, seeing that he is alone, she waits for him. Her body shakes and trembles from her own emotional outpour.

Ben catches up to her, but stands a little away. Gwen looks frightened and upset and she reminds him of a scared dog right now. She's ready to bite at anyone.

"Gwen please, please don't go. You do belong here, with me, Rook, and Kevin! Please, I..." Ben's face is crumbling under his own emotional weight. He doesn't know what to think about their family right now. He knows that Rook and Kevin have always been there for him and Gwen has too. He doesn't want to lose this weird found family. It's his and he loves them.

He takes a deep breath and looks up at Gwen, his own eyes match hers as tears burn in the corners.

"Gwen, I've thought you were like my family before this. Rook and Kevin have been my family for so long and then you came in! I can't imagine my life without you in it, even when we fight and pester each other. We can figure out Grandpa and Grandma later, but please... Please don't leave." The unsaid 'me' at the end of Ben's sentence hangs in the air. Ben's being selfish, he knows that, but he can't bear the thought of her leaving.

Ben holds onto Gwen's hands tightly, begging for her to stay. He doesn't think he can handle her leaving on top of everything. He doesn't think his heart candle handle that kind of pain again. Not after Kevin...

Gwen hears the pain in Ben's voice, but she's blinded by her own hurt right now. Gwen's heart pulls when she hears Ben's genuine words, begging her not to leave. Gwen knows she's not mad at Ben. She has been mad at him for plenty of things, but this isn't his fault. She knows it's not fair to take that out on him.

"Ben," Her voice is hoarse, she curses how it gives her emotions away. "I'll sleep on it. I need to find my brother though. I can't... he's all I've ever had. He deserves to know."

Ben nods in agreement and pulls Gwen to him in a bone crushing hug.

"I'll help you. I promise." He mumbles.

Gwen returns the hug in full force and shoves her face into Ben's collar. The two cousins stand in the hall for an unknown amount of time.

They both are crying into each other and are grasping onto one another like a vice. They've gotten closer since Gwen's arrival and in this moment, their bond feels genuine. They both feel like home to one another and they wouldn't trade that for the world.