My Lovely Family

Chapter 14 - Obsession

Kai was in the interrogation room again. This time Ben and Gwen were present. They weren't convinced of the first statement she had given.

"Kai, we know you," Ben said. "That's a typical Lucy's attitude, not yours. Tell us the truth."

"I can't, Ben... I've said everything I knew."

"We saw in the video you mentioning Julie's name," Gwen noted, "and then you made up a love story. We know it's a lie, Kai. Tell us the truth."

"I can't and I won't."

"Alright... since you don't tell for better..." - Ben turned into the Whampire - "... then it will be for worse" - the alien spat a corruption on Kai's forehead and ordered her to tell the truth.

(Opening theme)

"Julie ordered me to contact Lucy on visiting days as if I were a friend. I promised her a good amount of money if she gave me a phone book and made a little distraction for you when she was free."

"And why didn't Julie herself do it?" asked Whampire. "What does she want with that?"

"She wants to get Kevin out of jail. She wants to put a shapeshifter in his place."

"Guards, keep an eye on the Null Void prison. Suspend the visits. Don't let any outsider have access to the prisoners" ordered Whampire.

"And why didn't you tell that before?" asked Gwen.

"Because Julie threatened me. She said if I refused to do that, or told anyone, she was going to reveal to the press that my son is not my husband's."

Gwen gave guidance to Kai after Whampire removed the corruption and returned to his human form. They released her then.

That night Julie opened a portal into Kevin's cell. She brought a shapeshifter identical to him.

"Come fast!" she whispered. "Let's get over with this!"

Kevin entered the portal and the shapeshifter took his place. They were back at their home in Bellwood.

"Oh, Julie!" he hugged her. "Just as well I have you!"

"And no one will find out. Lucy and Kai will be guilty of all."

"Oh, about guilty Kai understands very well hahahahahahaha... but we have to leave here! It won't be long before the Plumbers discover us."*

(Note: Kevin's pun is based on the fact that Kai's husband had problems with Justice in the past. In the original version in Portuguese, Julie says "the guilty will fall entirely over Lucy and Kai" and Kevin answers "Oh, about falling Kai understands very well", referring to the fact Kai's husband is a soccer player known for falling into the field to simulate a foul.)

Julie started packing. Kevin had a hiding place far away from Bellwood where they could stay without being noticed.

While Julie and Kevin did this, the Tennysons slept at headquarters. Everyone but Ben. He waited until 3 am to put his plan into practice.

Natalie slept in one of the guest rooms next to her husband. Ben turned Pesky Dust into the room and approached his mother-in-law. Unnoticed, he started controlling her dream.

Pesky Dust realized that she dreamed of a notary's office, where Ben and Gwen were sitting at a table in front of a judge.

"Letting the terms clear then. Mrs. Gwendolyn Tennyson will have custody of the six children: Cassandra, Gwendolyn, Gabriella, Kenneth, Talitha, and Karina. While Mr. Benjamin Kirby Tennyson will not be able to approach minors until he has completed 10 years of alcoholism treatment. If you agree, they can sign the divorce document."

(Note: I know this situation is absurd, but that's what happens in dreams)

"Are you sure, Gwen?" Ben asked. "I love you…"

"Yes, Ben!" she replied harshly. "I should never have married a good-for-nothing like you. I'll finally marry a rich and wonderful man that my mother chose for me."

Natalie was very happy and proud, feeling as if she had won a great battle. It was when another Ben appeared next to her, paralyzing everyone but both of them as if time had frozen.

"What do you get for it, Aunt Natalie?"

"BEN?!" she shouted scared and looked back where she saw her son-in-law and daughter at the table before the judge. "But how... how is this possible? Oh my God, I must be crazy!"

"Aunt Natalie, really, why are you trying to separate me from Gwen?"

"I... I don't owe you explanations, Benjamin!" - she realized she was dreaming - "Oh my God, why don't I wake up soon?" - out of the dream, Natalie's body tried to wake up, but Pesky Dust didn't allow it.

"My mother-in-law, I beg you: stop trying to produce discord. I've always treated Gwen well and we're very happy together..."

"Of course. It's not Gwen who doesn't approve of you, it's me."

"And who chooses her husband? Herself or you?"

For a moment, Natalie was speechless. She noticed that her daughter chose with her heart and didn't do so when she was a 13-year-old girl, but an adult woman, aware of her choices.

"I'll keep respecting you," - Ben went on - "and I know you'll never like me. But make an effort to keep order. For the kids, for Gwen…"

Pesky Dust left Natalie and flew quickly to the bedroom where Gwen slept. The mother-in-law woke up with a scare and noticed nothing. She got up and went to her daughter's room. She found Ben and Gwen sleeping in the spooning position and looked disgusted at the scene.

The next morning Ben went down to the living room, where he saw Gwen reading a story to the children, as she did every day after breakfast.

"…But next Christmas Thomasina Tittlemouse got a present of enough rabbit-wool to make herself a cloak and a hood, and a handsome muff and a pair of warm mittens."

"It was because she saved the bunnies?" Gabriella asked.

"Yes, it was a thank you gift," Gwen replied.

"So Cousin Benjamin married Peter Rabbit's sister?" asked Cassandra

"Exactly. Married Cousin Flopsy, sister of Peter Rabbit."

"And they had six babies?" asked Gwendolyn.

"Yes, six beautiful babies."

The kids saw Ben going to the kitchen.

"Just like Daddy!" Kenny and his three older sisters shouted as they pointed at Ben.

"Yeees, just like Daddy," said Gwen, "it seems the Benjamins like to marry their cousins."

"And to have six babies," Cassandra added.

"That's because we're blessed with beautiful cousins," Ben said as he kissed Gwen. "And then with beautiful children."

"You woke up late, Ben. You didn't even go down for breakfast…"

"I'm going down now, love... and I'm not too late... What you were reading?

"Oh, I was reading Peter Rabbit's stories to kids, like my mother did when I was little."

Cassandra's private teacher was about to arrive. She was in first grade and had learned to read and write at the age of four, just like Gwen. Frank and Natalie said goodbye before returning to Bellwood. Although the arrangement was a week, they decided to come back early because Natalie kept complaining that she wanted to go home (though the idea of coming to headquarters was hers).

"Bye, my dear!" she hugged Gwen, looking like she didn't want to leave. "Oh, I'll miss you so much, my daughter!"

The children came to say goodbye and Natalie gave the same hug to each grandchild. Frank did the same, though he just shook Ben's hand instead of hugging him. Natalie approached her son-in-law.

"Bye, Ben," she said serenely. "Thanks for everything and sorry about anything." she hugged him.

"Bye, Aunt Natalie. You're always welcome" he didn't know if she was being nice because she had regretted it or because she was in front of her grandchildren, even though the latter was the most likely.

When they left, Max took the grandchildren down while the teacher arrived to teach Cassandra. At that moment the alarm sounded. The couple rushed to the scene and found Lucy, making another silly attack.

"Ooooohhhh, you're finally here... aren't you hangover today, Ben?" Hahahahahahahahahaha...

"Oh man!" said XLR8. "Did you change bodies with my mother-in-law?" he turned to Goop and wrapped himself in one of Lucy's arms.

Gwen returned to throwing mana balls at the Lenopan as she tried to knock her down. That was when the heroes saw Cassandra casting a spell toward Lucy.

"EMOCHA OBJECTIA"

The girl fired a mana beam at the villain, destabilizing her. Immediately, Goo returned to XLR8 form, took Cassandra, and took her to a safe street.

"Cassie! What you're doing here?"

"I'm fighting, just like you."

"You should be in class; this is no place for children."

"I can read Mom's spellbook, I can do magic, I can fight" Cassandra protested

"Daughter, you have no training! I don't know how you got here, but go back home."

"When you won the Omnitrix you had no training either and fought anyway."

"Cassie, I don't have to discuss it with you. I'm your father and you have to obey me. Now go home!"

"No!"

"Then I'll have to take you by force" XLR8 picked up Cassandra and took her back to headquarters.

Once there, he asked Max not to let Cassandra leave the tower at all. As much as the girl screamed, her father's decision didn't change.

"And if she throws a tantrum again, take the belt and you already know what to do..." XLR8 said as he returned to help Gwen.

But it was late. Gwen had just defeated Lucy with a spell that created two huge tornadoes, making it impossible for the Lenopan to see anything or react.

"SAPHIRIUS EXPECTORIUM PERPETUA"

Lucy was finally on the floor. Rook arrived with the Plumbers to take her.

"Ben! Finally... all right with Cassandra?"

"Yeah, I took her back," he said as he returned to human form. "Cassie found a way to catch your old spellbook and now she can conjure some spells."

"It's very dangerous for her to be here without any training. But if she wants to fight, we can fix it."

They boarded the ship to accompany Lucy's arrest. Meanwhile, Ben was talking to Rook.

"Look, Rook. Thank you for bringing me home that day, and I'm sorry for everything I said. I was not fair to you."

"I forgive you. You were drunk, did not know what you were said. But there are things that people should not know... at least not now."

"Rook, just between us... are you?"

"I am."

"But didn't you like that Revonnahgander?"

"Rayona? Yes, but we decided to be just friends. I found you a lot more interesting than her."

"Me? But what did you see in me?"

"Until now I am trying to find out. But do not worry. I will not even try to steal you from Gwen. I am looking for a guy just for me. A twink... AAAAAAAAH."

"Oh, and something else. If you don't drink, what were you doing there in the bar?"

"I was watching Julie, who was talking to a suspicious Florauna. It looked like he was handing her technology when you arrived."

"Oh, man! I screwed up a good investigation that could help us with the case Gwen's investigating."

"The one that involves Kai and Lucy? I also suspect Julie is plotting to release Kevin from prison. But the Plumbers have checked the prison and can guarantee that no one has left or entered in those days."

Cassandra went to talk to her great-grandfather after her class was over.

"Hi, Cassie. Did you learn many things today?"

"Yes, I learned the multiplication table of 5."

"Oh, this is very important!" Max picked her up.

"Great-grandpa, why can't I fight?"

"Ooooh, honey, your parents just don't want you to get hurt. It takes a lot of training before you get into a fight with the bad guys, and you're only 6-years-old.

"But Dad was only 10 when he got the Omnitrix."

"When you're older, you'll see that being 10 and being 6 are very different things. But for now, focus on being a very smart girl like Mom" Max kissed her on the cheek. "She helped Dad with her intelligence before starting to do magic. And one day, my great-granddaughter, you and your siblings will fight alongside them."

Cassandra rejoiced in the conversation with her great-grandfather, but she still wanted to fight.

Kevin was near his hiding place selling alien technology to smugglers. He wore an ID mask not to reveal his identity. When his business was over, he picked Devlin up and carried him inside.

"Dad, why do you wear a mask to work?"

"Because if I take off the mask they'll put me in jail again," Kevin answered as he took off the mask.

"None of this would have happened if you hadn't gone after Gwen," Julie said.

"Devlin, go to the bedroom. Daddy talks to you later."

"Am I grounded?"

"No, baby, Dad just needs to talk to Mom."

Devlin obeyed while Kevin looked seriously at Julie.

"What I do or don't do is my own business."

"But it's true! Why do you worry about the Tennysons when you must stick to your family?"

"Because this is not the family I planned!" Kevin shouted. "When will you understand, Julie? I never stopped loving Gwen, NEVER! She was supposed to be mine, ONLY MINE! But then that idiot Ben came and stole her from me!"

"That's not true! You cheated on her! Ben didn't steal her from you."

Kevin took his wife's arms and set her against the wall.

"Listen here; I just married you to try to forget about her. But was it useful? No. You gave me a son and I thank you very much for that. Thank you for releasing me from jail. But know that I won't give up until I have Gwen back!"

"If you love her so much," Julie's eyes filled with tears, "why did you cheat on her?"

"Because she never had sex with me. I needed one woman at home and several out there to satisfy me. But Gwen's not like that. She's very religious and got the 'keep virgin for marriage' thing and then got mad because I went after what she refused to give me. Now the one who took her virginity was that ugly thing Tennyson, not content in having sex with his cousin, still had SIX kids with her. SIX, Julie!"

"And you have YOURS, Kevin! Forget her and think of your son!"

"A son who's not of the woman I love."

Julie burst into tears. Kevin put the mask back on and left. He only came back at the end of the night. When he was sleeping, Julie used an alien device to collect all her belongings. She picked up the bags and Devlin and teleported back to Bellwood.

When dawn broke, Ken came to visit his sister at headquarters. He loved to play with his nephews.

"Oh, I'm glad you're here, Ken. You don't know how much children love you."

"Oh, I know, Gwen! I also love my nephews!"

When Ken went to play with them, Ben approached Gwen.

"Sorry about what I said about your brother too, Gwen."

"All right, Ben. You were drunk. But it's a very sensitive subject for my mother."

"But wait... Is Ken really…"

"Ken doesn't find women beautiful, just men. But he's celibate, wants nothing with anyone."

"And Aunt Natalie doesn't accept that."

"No. She never admitted it. My father took a while but accepted. My mother doesn't face the truth, never."

Julie was at her father's house, crying, while Devlin played with the neighboring children.

"I warned you, Julie."

"But I loved him, Dad…"

"Oh, my daughter! I'm so sorry! But you have time to fix it."

"How?"

"First, get a divorce. Allege everything Kevin did to you. Second, if I were you, I'd give him to the Plumbers."

"But I'll be arrested for being complicit."

"And will you let Gwen and her family get attacked? The Plumbers will think of something, my daughter, but you can't let such an injustice happen."

That afternoon, Gwen trained Cassandra while Max and Ken took care of the other children. Ben answered the door. It was from Julie.

"Ben, I need to talk to you!"

"What's the matter, Julie?"

"It's Kevin. He got out of jail, and I know where he is."

Author's Notes

The story Gwen reads to her children is "The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies", by British author Beatrix Potter. This story belongs to the saga of Peter Rabbit, one of the biggest classics of British children's literature.