I don't own Ben 10.

Chapter 42: Fluffy

A Month And A Half Later

Omnitrix City; Rushmore Base; December 21st, 2018; 3:32PM

After reintroducing Albedo into their ranks as a team, they celebrated for a night as members such as Rook and Lucy got to know his story, he also explained his mission and the deal he made with Ben. Once the baby was born and the Tennysons had their wedding, they would venture into Ledger Domain to save Hope from herself.

Three times a week, Ben or Gwendolyn would stop by the prison that held the Rooters, coming up with some sort of compromise, however; the brainwashing they were put through as children no-less was too strong to be broken by normal means.

Being imprisoned at the Rushmore Base was a far-cry from the hell hole they lived in while trapped within the Null Void but, it wasn't without its faults. Still, they enjoyed television, beds, and three daily meals; Manny spent most of his time whaling on a custom Tetramandian punching-bag that hung from the ceiling of his cell. Helene littered her own space with books, she would kill hours simply reading, although; it was at times agonizing for a speedster to slow down for so long. Her specialized treadmill only went two-hundred miles-per-hour, a slow jog on her worst day.

Pierce was far easier to accommodate, he spent every waking moment either meditating or training, requesting only archery targets even in the confines of his thirty-by-thirty-foot spaced glass-cube, identical to the others. His reflexes were sharper than they'd ever been, gaining even more progress in said training than his teammates. Alan the half-Pyronite did mostly the same as Pierce only, he made one request for two video games a week to play on occasion when he wasn't training to his physical prime with simple exercises like a thousand pushups, sit-ups, crunches, and leg-lifts a day, for months now.

Today it was Gwendolyn's turn, teleporting into the base via a Bezelian symbol spinning through wall deep below the surface of the Earth where the Rooters were contained. They were programmed to hunt Ben and nobody else, so her arrival didn't stir them the way his usually did. She was noticeably very pregnant, the number was six but, she was certainly well into her third trimester. Wearing an elastic teal blouse, and grey sweatpants, she looked them all over as they ceased their training to hear what she had to say this time.

"So, we haven't exactly gotten along these past few months and I get that, you guys have been prisoners here for so long it must feel like being in a comfortable hell all its own," reading their emotions, and being the smartest person in the room at the moment, allowed her to appeal to their situation. "You were hypnotized by Government professionals, brainwashed over the course of years to hate Ben Tennyson. I'm going to show you why by revealing your memories to you that were taken. I'm going to give you your life back."

Pierce narrowed his eyes, approaching closer to the glass partition, looking into her eyes deeply as he searched for any bad intentions. "Awe hell nah!" Manny shouted from the other side of the room, not breaking their eye contact, "I'm not letting the wife of the coming storm into my he-" he was interrupted by their self-appointed leader.

"Manny!" Pierce interrupted, prompting Helene and Alan to also focus up on her offer and take it seriously, "I know what they did to us, by spending my time meditating in here I've unlocked glimpses." He paused as Gwendolyn stepped forward, her face filled with sympathy and emotion, "I wanna see it all."

"You can't be serious-"

Helene stood up, closing one of her books and placing it atop a stack of novels four feet high, "If Pierce is doing it, so am I."

Gwendolyn turned her gaze to Alan who sat in the corner of his cell, his video games were shut off, and he'd been listening, "My whole life," he spoke with a southern drawl accent he must have gained growing up originally in the southern mid-west, "I've felt like somethin' was missing, like I was forgettin' somethin' real important. Like I was meant for somethin' greater!" he turned and watched his teammates looking at him, somber and sympathetic looks on their faces.

Gwendolyn took twenty or so steps to the right, keeping eye contact with the youngest of the group, being only fifteen years old, "I know you must be scared, and I promise you to know and work through it… is better than the nightmares you all experience," she reasoned and she reasoned well, finally hearing Manny speak up from his cell on the other side of the room.

"Aight, fine! If everyone is gonna do it, I guess I'll have my memories unlocked or whatever it is."

Gwendolyn smiled as she clapped her hands together and floated up into a sitting position three fee off the ground; "Alright, I'm going to enter your minds, you may feel some pressure in your heads, that's perfectly normal," she closed her eyes for nearly five seconds before they snapped open encompassed with white light, "Occulta Revelare!" her voice echoed through the room as four beams of white energy shot from her forehead and through the glass barrier, hitting each of their foreheads as they groaned and fell to their knees, their lives literally flashed before their eyes. The awful experiments, the brutal combat training, how they were used to assassinate high end targets around the world, and then dumped into Null Void. More than that they saw how they were exposed to drugs, hypnotists, behavioral control collars that tortured them daily. Their hatred for Ben was manufactured by the Government, Gwendolyn went out of her way to show them the good Ben had been doing since they were locked away, the lives he saved and the progress he made with interstellar peace.

They all gasped as they backed away from the glass, ending up on each of their respective beds with their eyes closed, hands over their faces, "I'm sorry, you may feel disoriented for a few hours but, when we return… and I mean we, I want to have a conversation about your futures because you don't have to be cold blooded killers… not anymore."

The circular vortex of golden light spun behind her, still open from her arrival, she approached the mystical exit before turning back over her shoulder, "Just think about how your parents would have wanted you to live your lives."

…

Omnitrix City; New Xenon Square; December 21st, 2018; 7:01PM

It was just two days from their Birthdays, and Ben and Gwen couldn't wait to celebrate; it had begun snowing earlier that week making the weather spectacular at this time of night. In the center of the Square had been set up a two-hundred-foot ice skating rink, and twenty-feet from that was a massive Christmas tree with twinkling lights, glistening ornaments, and beautifully designed tinsel that wrapped around the tree. It may not have been as big or as popular as Rockefeller Plaza just yet but, Ben was confident given a few years…

Rook and Lucy intertwined their arms the former actually had to teach the Lenopan how to balance herself in skates, being that he was military trained for nearly any combat situation… he obviously knew how to ice skate. Lucy on the hand didn't have things like ice rinks on her planet and they certainly didn't have any in the Plumber academy. "You simply keep your stride and push forwards, here," as she wobbled forth, Rook came from behind and placed his hands on her hips firmly, supporting her, forcing heat to rush up her neck and into her cheeks.

"T-Thanks," when it came to being sexual and teasing Rook, she clearly had the upper hand but, when he was sweet during the little moments its what made her feel like she'd melt into her putty form on accident in his arms.

Cooper and Julie sat on a bench sipping hot-chocolate that steamed in the brisk air, it didn't exactly feel like a Highbreed weather tower but it wasn't freezing temperatures either, a nice in-between. Only a foot or two away, Ben had an arm wrapped around Gwendolyn's shoulder as they too sat on the bench observing the peaceful citizens as they went about their day. She leaned her head into his shoulder, her slightly grown out pixie-cut brushing up against his neck.

"This is what its all about, right?" Cooper announced, watching over the happy citizens that enjoyed their lives safe from danger thanks to the very heroes in their midst. Though, they hadn't noticed them yet and the group rather kept that way.

"Of course, letting these people live their lives happily, that's why we suit up… for moments like these," Julie pointed out, linking her arm tightly around the blonde-technopath's, pecking him on the neck as his pale freckled cheeks burned red-hot.

Ben nodded down to Gwen who giggled, nodding as his hand grazed over her large baby-bump; suddenly, he felt a slight thump from within her abdomen. "Was that just-"

"It kicked! The baby kicked!" Gwen was about to start crying when Ben embraced her, pulling her in as he had the privilege and luck to have had his hand there at the moment, "It felt so soft…" he muttered to himself with a tear welling in his eye.

Suddenly, Ben's snow-white haired twin approached holding two cones of shaved ice, one green and one red, "I was returning from the facilities when I noticed this frozen-water concoction on sale, is it not funny?" Albedo handed him his green snow cone as the former sucked the fruit juices out of the ice.

"Actually that is kinda funny, thanks man," Ben did the same as he chowed down on his snow cone; the peace was to die for and the holidays were the perfect time to enjoy it. Music had been playing sending out a jolly tune from the speakers assembled above the tree.

Gwendolyn shifted to stand up as Ben questioned what she was doing, "Where are you going? Whatever it is you need I can go get it for you," he offered but, she insisted anyways.

"C'mon, dweeb, since when did I need your help going to the bath-" she paused as she felt as though she may have wet her pants, no it wasn't urine but, she certainly heard and felt the splash hit the floor, splattering against her ankles, "R-Room?"

Ben stood up quickly, "Julie!"

The doctor rushed over from a few feet away, glanced only for a second at the liquids dripping down her thighs now, "H-her water just broke, Ben… we need to call an ambulance!"

"I'll just run he-"

"No! That type of speed could seriously hurt the baby, your next best bet is a regular car, how did you guys get here?"

…

Ben sped as fast as he could, not worried about crashing with his enhanced reflexes and sight, he swiftly moved through the street at a comfortable two-hundred and two miles-per-hour in his black Hennessey Venom F5, a vehicle that cost nearly two-million dollars. Gwendolyn was in the passenger seat with Julie in the single compact backseat.

He swerved through traffic as Cooper was still driving at a normal pace far behind them, in a regular BMW, he used his abilities to give Ben every green-light he needed to make it to Tennyson Tower only twenty-five miles away.

"Are you good?" Ben asked, not taking his eyes off the road, "Because I can slow down-"

Gwendolyn grabbed his hand tightly like she was trying her best to crush it, "J-Just drive!" she nearly shouted.

"Yes Ma'am…"

…

Omnitrix City; Tennyson Tower; December 21st, 2018; 7:43PM

Ben, Gwendolyn, and Julie walked the pregnant mage into the lobby where they were met with a team of medical professionals, Cooper had called the tower and informed them of the situation as he rigged the street-lights. Ben followed Julie through the building as they loaded Gwen into a stretcher and reached an elevator. Once inside, the high-speed machine sent them upwards towards the medical bay, even more equipped an advanced than her office on the command deck.

They laid her down on a large hospital-bed, stripping her down and getting her into a gown, the progress of her labor was also speeding up as she was already dilating four centimeters. Julie had dressed in her lab-coat, with highly-advanced spectral lenses in her eyes, gloves over her hands Gwendolyn's legs spread wide.

Ben couldn't help himself, he dashed out of the room at a controlled few hundred-miles-per-hour, dashing up through the building and coming back down in seconds holding the Charm of Luck in the palm of his hand. He knew the dangers of Cousin's giving birth together, the genetic risks, and he couldn't bare to gamble his child's health on something so easily avoidable.

He knelt down beside Gwendolyn whose smile reappeared when she saw him, sweating bullets as he clutched her hand with his Charm between both palms. "Are you ready for this?"

"I don't think I have a c-choice!" she tried to laugh but felt pressure in her abdomen.

Julie went wide eyed, blinking a few times before regaining her composure, "Wow, that was fast, you're already seven centimeters dilated; it's time to start pushing!" she announced.

"HAAGH!"

…

Gwendolyn must have passed out during the second or third push but, when she came to, there was nothing but smiles all around her and a healthy whaling cry echoing through the room, "She's awake," Cooper spoke up as he must have arrived at some point during her black out, his eyes were glistening blue reading the vitals of their new baby.

Ben had it in his arms, wrapped in a blanket yet, still soaked in a bit of white goo and blood; he was crying, tears running down his smiling face, Gwendolyn reached her arms out, after all the screaming she could hardly speak. Ben knelt down next to her, cradling the baby as he passed it over to its mother, "Congratulations you two, you are the proud parents of a very healthy baby girl."

Gwendolyn gasped happily, caressing the infants head, tears welling in her eyes; when her vision came back to her, she realized that Rook, Lucy, Cooper, Julie, Emily, and even Wes were all in the large and expensive hospital room with them. "I ran two people who wanted to be here once they found out, the others needed some time but…" he nodded as Coop, closest to the door, opened it and allowed Saundra and Carl to walk in slowly, smiles still swept across the room.

"Oh my gosh, Carl, look… she's so beautiful, and she's even louder than Ben was when he was born," the blonde mother slapped her husband's chest, the louder the baby cried the more of a sign that it was healthy, as they used crying to help breath moments after birth. Gwendolyn wasn't surprised that her parents needed more time to adjust to the fact that she had been pregnant this entire time but, knowing that her soon to be in-laws were this supportive made her cry even harder.

As Gwendolyn closed her eyes and held her face against the smooth head of her newborn, Carl placed his hand on Ben's shoulder both staring at the baby as it cried and reached from Gwen's face. "Ya know, I thought I'd know…" Ben started without breaking eye contact with his baby girl, "I thought it couldn't be so difficult to comprehend but, looking at her now… what I want for her and her future…"

"Being a Father isn't always easy but, moments like these are the most beautiful… and in ten years when she's giving you a run for your money," Carl chuckled a bit and kept his eyes on her, "You'll think back to this moment and know it's all worth it."

Ben sighed, folding his arms, "It's a good thing I have a lot of money." Gwendolyn looked up, tears running down her cheeks as they cleared a path for Ben to retake his place by her side once the others had gotten their glances.

"Isn't she perfect?" She whispered as Ben caressed his thumb across the newborn's cheek, her eyes had already begun to take a shade of color which was unusual for a child born less than ten minutes ago. "Her eyes are green!" Gwendolyn said looking up at them all as if it were the biggest discovery in the history of the world.

"Shocker," Cooper chuckled, considering the more than obvious genetic odds.

"Having a baby is a lot of work, how do you plan to manage your time as… superheroes and what-not?" Carl asked as politely as possible, trying not to start another argument.

Gwendolyn spoke up first, "We're not… I'm gonna be the stay-at-home Mom, I can give up being a hero for at least half a decade," her eyes lit up glistening with enthusiasm as she stared down into the brighter emerald eyes of her newborn who was soon to be taken to be incubated in highly-advanced pods so that the Mother can rest before being discharged, "Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to be a Mother, a bride, a wife, and one day even a Grandmother."

Ben placed his hand on her shoulder, his parents baring witness to this conversation wasn't part of their plan but, it was necessary, "Gwendolyn every time something comes up like this, it's you who gives up your dream of being a hero, and don't pretend you don't love it just as much as I do, maybe this time I should-" he was interrupted, a gentle yet firm finger over his lips.

"I already made up my mind; I love being a hero, but I love my baby girl a trillion times more," Julie approached with a specialized hover-dolly cushioned with blankets tucked within, "The world needs Ben Ten Thousand, sure as heck doesn't need a Lucky Girl," she scoffed, about to hand her baby over to Julie.

Rook spoke up optimistically, "They are simply honored to have had one in the first place," Gwendolyn blushed as Lucy wrapped her arm around his, it was a sweet sentiment, and that was what she liked most about him in the first place.

Julie approached closer but, before reaching out to take the baby, she stopped, "Have either of you thought of a name?"

Ben and Gwen glanced into each other's eyes simultaneously, speaking in unison with gleeful expressions, "Jennifer Maxine Tennyson."

Wes nodded and spoke for the first time since he'd arrived, happy to just be a part of the celebration, "Maxine? After Max?"

Ben stood up as the baby was placed in the pod where it would be fed and nurtured, with ideal warmth and nurses under Julies watch to keep an eye on her at all times. "Yea, we felt Maxine was better than Maxwell for a girl."

Cooper chuckled and sauntered over, nudging his shoulder, "You totally chose Jennifer so you could call her Jen Ten one day, right?" he narrowed his eyes with a mischievous smile.

"I totally did not, Jennifer is a very beautiful name," he wrapped his arm around Cooper's shoulders turning him away from his recovering fiancé, "But, how cool would that be, I could give her a suit and an Omnitrix too…!" his whispered should was a tad too loud as the entire room began to chuckle in response, forcing Ben to turn around and defend himself, "Hypothetically!"

…

6 Weeks Later

New York; Bellwood Church; January 6th, 2019; 10:00AM

The church bells loudly rung ten times to signify the time, although Ben had faced down demons from other dimensions, war lords from outer space, and the edge of oblivion itself… he still found himself terrified to his very core. Sweat collected over his brow as he looked himself over in the mirror, his suit was perfectly tailored and cost a fortune but, that didn't mean he still didn't feel self-conscious about it.

Rook came from behind and turned him around, loosening his tie for him as it hung down an inch or so more giving him room to breathe, "I believe you are experiencing the chilled feet."

Ben shook his head, placing a hand on the Revonnahgander's shoulder, "The term is 'cold feet' and no, absolutely not; I've never wanted anything more in my life, it's just-" he cut himself off, looking back into the full-bodied mirror. He had trimmed his beard perfectly, his hair had been cut and combed but, not so much so that it lost its volume, and with his superhuman body? He was practically James Bond in the grey and white Tom Ford O'Conner suit he was sporting and yet, he was just as nervous as any other man.

Cooper folded his arms, sitting on the other side of the room with his legs crossed, "I think you look great man, all you have to do is say the right words."

Ben suddenly sped across the room in a burst of Kinceleran speed, grabbing Cooper by the shoulders as gently as possible, "Exactly, what if I stutter o-or what if I say the wrong name at the alter?!"

Cooper was unimpressed, gently pulling the heroes hands away from the collar of the jacket he wore over his suit, "This isn't a nineties sit-com, and you have a photo-eidetic memory, all you have to do is read your vows to yourself like two or three times and you'll remember it word-for-word twenty-years from now," he hopped off the chair he was sitting in and slapped Ben on the back a few times, attempting to comfort him.

Ben turned to the last person in the room who hadn't spoken up the entire time; Albedo blinked as Cooper and Rook too looked to him for a response, "You want advice from me? I turned my last girlfriend into a psychotic power-hungry Multiversal witch that wants to snap my neck…"

Ben blinked and turned around further with his hands gestured out, "Aaand?" still wanting his opinion, having grown much closer to the twin of himself.

Albedo was wearing his usual attire only with an expensive black coat over his crimson-trimmed black t-shirt and black jeans instead of cargo-pants. He rolled his eyes and pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against, Albedo didn't hesitate to slap the hero across the face with casual force, knowing it wasn't a malicious blow. "My advice is to vacate your own mind and refocus your attention on the present, Gwendolyn is here, ready to spend whatever remains of her human life with you. Squander the moment because you were nervous and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Rook, Cooper, and Ben blinked simultaneously, the latter of whom held his cheek for a moment and shook his head, "He's right, all of you are, I'm Ben freakin Ten Thousand," he approached the door to the main door leading out of the atrium and into the main-hall, "I can do anything." He whispered to himself as he pushed the doors open, walking down the aisle, an orchestra of twelve played a symphony as he and Albedo locked arms and started their strut down the aisle.

'Chasing it tonight, doubts are runnin' 'round her head. He's waitin', hides behind a cigarette. Heart is beatin' loud and she doesn't want it to stop... Movin' too fast, moon is lightin' up her skin. She's fallin', doesn't even know it yet… Havin' no regrets is all that she really wants.'

Ben chose Albedo to be his best-man at his wedding to not only test his trust worthiness but, also to solidify a bond with him; he never wanted him as an enemy and he would do anything to ensure he stayed on the side of good. Not to mention, everyone seemed to enjoy this new attitude that Albedo had shown off recently. Plus he already promised Rook the position of God-Father to Jennifer so he felt it was a fair trade; Cooper didn't want anything to do with the wacky Tennyson family fold, probably smarter than the others for doing so.

In the front row, Julie, Cooper, Frank, Natalie, Saundra, Carl, Aunt Vera, Colonel Rossum, Gordan and Betty Jean, as well as Camille and her infant grand-daughter sitting beside Joan while she texted. It surprised them how long it had been since that wedding, thirteen-years. The rest of the guests were important senators that supported Ben's political views, Susan was in attendance as well with her secret service at every entrance and exit. Of course, Billy Billions crashed the party but, stayed seated in the very back of the pews being spotted instantly but, he only sipped a martini and watched for now.

Suddenly, without warning, a beam of emerald energy shot down from the sky not damaging the roof or the church in the slightest and while a boom sounded through the church, the result was a tiny frog-like creature, taking his seat quietly as Azmuth didn't want to interrupt. It was almost bizarre to see him care so much but, considering how many times Ben saved the world and Universe, perhaps he finally earned Azmuth's respect?

They all seemed happy to see Ben standing at the alter with the priest, Albedo only a foot or two behind him. It was a brief pause before they heard 'Hear Comes The Bride' begin to play over the piano. They all turned their focus towards the entrance where Gwendolyn slowly strutted in, her beauty stunned him on sight with Wes wrapped around her arm. The dress sparkled and the thin silk sleeve glistened in the morning sun-light that cascaded down from the church windows.

Wes whispered to her as lowly as possible, "If your Grandfather were here, he'd be so very proud of you, both of you," they reached the end of the aisle and he pulled her hand up to kiss the top of her hand, before returning to an empty seat in the front row. Gwendolyn stood in front of her bridesmaids Emily and Lucy who practically set up the entire event themselves, physically of course; the mage had planned everything in advance for them weeks in advance.

'We're only gettin' older, baby; and I've been thinkin' about it lately. Does it ever drive you crazy, just how fast the night changes? Everything that you've ever dreamed of… Disappearing when you wake up…'

The priest glanced back and forth between the two, not holding a bible but, speaking from the heart, "These two were never meant to be in love, destiny and even God said it so… and yet here we are! Celebrating the love between two people who have had the odds against them the entire time," his speech was motivational, but It wasn't his time to speak anymore, "I've been told the bride and groom have written their own vows for each other."

Gwendolyn almost immediately started crying as she pulled a small sheet of paper from the waistline of her dress, unfolding it and chuckling nervously, "Ben, you were by far the biggest, lamest, dunderheaded doofus I've ever met; then I watched you mature into a man, a real man, one that I can see myself spending the rest of my life with."

They interlocked fingers and took a single step closer, "Ben, I don't care what or how our relationship began, we're both people and I think pretending I don't love you to death would just be a lie," and as she stepped forwards and placed a hand on his face, with his on hers, they stared into each other's eyes, "I don't plan on lying to you or myself every again."

The priest aimed his attention to Ben who nodded, not needing a sheet of paper to remember it all correctly, "When we first met, I hated your guts… than I paid the least bit attention, and suddenly you were this amazing girl I couldn't get out of my head." Ben continued chuckling a bit, "I knew it the night you took my jacket home, that you were the one for me, I had no doubt in my mind."

The priest paused for a moment, glancing between the two to ensure that they were done, "Do you take Gwendolyn Elizabeth Tennyson to be your lawfully wedded wife, through sickness and health, through the rich and the poor? Till death do you part?" she waited for his answer but didn't have to wait long as he almost blurted out.

"I do! I do…" a few chuckles from the crowd of friends and family.

Turning his attention to Gwendolyn and keeping it on her eyes, glistening like precious stones, "And do you take Benjamin Kirby Tennyson as your lawfully wedded husband, through sickness and through health, through the good times and the bad, and till death do you part?"

Gwendolyn shook her head with the widest smile, "You don't even have to ask! I do!" he couldn't get enough of her smile, especially the way she was giggly waiting for her que.

"By the power vested in me by the State of New York, you may kiss the bride!" the minister watched as Ben spun her around by the hands they were interlocked, dipping her over almost upside down, and planting a soft kiss that only grew more passionate.

'Everything that you've ever dreamed of… Disappearing when you wake up. But there's nothing to be afraid of, even when the night changes.
It will never change, baby…
It will never change, baby…
It will never change me and you!'

…

Short Chapter

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Song: Night Changes By: One Direction