As they flew through the air, it seemed that Donovan had forgotten all about his destroyed undersea resort. His attention was rapidly shifting to the new one on the moon. Right now, he sounded more like a kid than his grandson did.
He and Max talked about Donovan's ideas, and expressing their satisfaction that their respective grandkids were getting along well.
In the meantime, the kids were having their own conversation.
"It was good meeting you Eddie," Gwen said.
"Good meeting you guys too. Sorry I was kind of a jerk at first."
"Don't worry about it." Ben reassured him. "Me and my dweeb over here have both had our jerk moments."
Gwen cast a slight scowl at Ben, but her expression softened. "He's right. But we forgive and forget. So that's what we'll do now."
"Thanks," Eddie said with a smile. He held out his hand, "Friends then?"
"Friends!" The cousins said in unison as first Ben then Gwen shook his extended hand.
"Oh, and Ben," Eddie said, "Since you like this so much." He gestured to the Sumo Slammer pin he wore. "Why don't you keep it?" He took it off and offered it to Ben.
Ben's eyes lit up. "Thanks, but isn't this some big investment?"
"Not anymore. It's a gift." He turned to Gwen. "I don't have anything for you. I wasn't exactly planning this."
"It's okay. Maybe we'll all exchange gifts next time we meet."
"I'd like that." Eddie pulled out a paper pad from the armrest on the helicopter they were riding in. He scribbled something down and handed each of them a sheet of paper. "My address, number and email." He then handed them the pad. "Now give me yours."
They wrote down their information and handed him the pad.
"Great. Gwen, your gift will be at your home before you get back from your vacation. I'll talk to Mr. Tennyson to get some ideas."
"You don't have to do that Eddie." Gwen told him.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to. Besides, it will give me an excuse to talk to you."
"Okay," she said, smiling back at him.
Soon the Tennysons were back on the road. No one was riding shotgun up front. Both of the kids were talking at the table behind Max.
"Looks like you two made a new friend," he said to his grandchildren.
"Yeah, seems like it," Ben answered.
Max was happy to hear it. He knew that neither of his grandkids had many friends. Gwen had been stuck with the nerd, and teachers pet labels; Ben, well he didn't seem to fit with any of the others at school. Maybe this road trip would help them make some friends, even better mutual friends between them.
Max decided. Donovan knows about aliens now; and Eddie's heard the whole story from Ben and Gwen. He would call his old friend and fill him in about everything, the omnitrix, the plumbers and all the rest. If only in the interest of making it easier for the kids to keep in touch with Eddie.
He called out to the kids. "When we go back through Arizona, we'll pay a visit to another friend of mine, Wes Green. And you won't need to worry about keeping any secrets with him. He worked with me as a plumber."
"That's great," Ben said. It'll be cool to hear some plumber stories from you guys."
Max smiled, it would be fun to tell some of those stories. And the kids might make another new friend. After all Wes had a granddaughter around their age.