Check it. Got it done a week before Christmas! The beginning of this story was really easy to write, it just flowed from my fingertips. The last few bits however, took a bit to write out. Hopefully they aren't all too OOC. Enjoy!
Eleven year old Ben Tennyson paced nervously around his room. Thanksgiving had come and gone, and Christmas was nearing fast. He had already picked out presents for most of his family, yet he couldn't find the right gift for one specific family member: Gwen Tennyson. He couldn't just go with the trite ideas of years before: Gwen was too old for toys, Or so Ben thought. A book would seem particularly lazy, since he considered he a major bookworm, and he had only seen her enjoy a video game once or twice. Ben plopped down at his desk, then slammed his head on it in frustration. All of those gifts seemed too... Impersonal. He huffed angrily into the wooden surface, then let out a sigh of defeat. Why was this so hard? The two had fought side-by-side the previous summer, fighting aliens,
monsters, super powered villains, and even an alien warlord bent for world domination! What could he possibly get for her, for dealing with that?
"Come on, Grandpa... Pick up!" Ben muttered, his cellphone to his ear. A click sounded, Grandpa Max's cheery voice rang through.
"Y'ello?" Ben sighed in relief. "Grandpa, I need some help." Ben heard a quick intake of breath from his grandfather. "Is this something we can talk about over the phone?" Ben grinned. "Yes, Grandpa. I could use some help with gift ideas." Ben could almost hear the relief in his grandpa's tone. "Is that all? Here I was, worried the world may be ending or something. Who for?" Ben gulped nervously. "...Gwen." Grandpa Max went silent, but Ben could hear the mirth in his voice when he responded.
"So, my Grandson is finally buying a gift for a girl, huh?" Ben blushed heavily. "Grandpa!" Max chuckled. "What? Can't I tease my grandson once in awhile?"
Ben huffed, his embarrassment fading. "You're no help." Max sighed. "You know the saying: 'It's the thought that counts'?" Ben was silent, so Max elaborated. "You see, one Christmas: I was struggling to come up with something to get your grandmother. I spent nights and weeks looking, and you know what happened?" Ben waited in anticipation. "She hated it." Ben's spirits fell. "But you know what? She still loved me. She didn't care about one crappy gift, but she cared about the thought behind it. Get it?" Ben slowly grinned as Max's words ran through his head. "Thanks, Grandpa." Ben said, breaking the silence. "I know exactly what to get her." Ben placed his cellphone on his desk, then twisted the dial of the Omnitrix, His grin growing ever wider.
Christmas Eve, Ben and his parents were preparing for visitors that evening. Ben and Carl were straightening up the living room when the doorbell rang. Carl almost fell over in surprise as Ben literally jumped to his feet and ran for the door. "I've got it!" Ben reached the front door, bouncing with excitement as he opened the door. "Uncle Frank!" Ben grinned as he greeted his uncle. Frank was wearing a bright red Santa coat, with his glasses high up on his nose. Frank crouched down and gave his nephew a hug. "Great to see you, kiddo." Frank let Ben go, then stepped out of the cold and into the living room. Natalie followed shortly after, her nose red and scrunched in irritation. She wore a baby clue jacket, a magenta scarf, a matching pair of gloves, and a navy colored beanie. "Good Lord, it's cold out there."
Gwen followed her parents inside, her appearance made Ben want to laugh. She wore a bright green Christmas sweater, with a terribly done Rudolph design sewn on it, a pair of bright pink earmuffs rested on her ears, and a light blue pair of gloves covered her hands. Gwen shivered as she closed the door behind them, then eyed Ben. "What's so funny, doofus?" Ben grinned. "Nothing. Merry Christmas, dweeb." Gwen raised an eyebrow, but a grin slowly formed on her face. "Merry Christmas, Ben."
As tradition had dictated for years, the Tennyson family had gotten together and each member opened one present that night. Afterwards,
Ben led Gwen up to his room, (After removing the ugly sweater Aunt Vera had given her.) Ben flipped on the light switch, Gwen screwed her eyes shut, then slowly opened them. She gasped. "You actually cleaned your room. Wow." She suddenly turned to Ben with an incredulous expression. "You didn't just shove it all in your closet, did you?" Ben grinned, then yanked open his closet. Gwen squealed, and fell back onto her butt. She frowned at Ben as he gestured into his neatly organized closet, a grin on his face. "Dweeb." Gwen muttered as she got to her feet. A smile soon formed on Gwen's face as Ben gestured for her to sit on his bed beside him. "So." She said, sitting down beside him. "You cleaned up for me?" Ben shrugged, a blush on his face. Gwen's eyes roamed the room, before settling on a small box on Ben's bedside table.
"That mine?" Ben stared at her for a moment, then shook himself. "Yeah, that's it." He reached over and handed it to her. Gwen smiled softly at Ben's horrible wrapping job, Ben frowned as she eyed it however. "Yeah, I know. It sucks." Gwen playfully punched his shoulder. "You're getting better, dork." Gwen tore the wrapping paper from the box, then slowly opened it. Resting inside on a bundle of packing paper was a plant. Gwen raised it to her eyes, squinting at the bright green and red colors. Two things managed to surprise Gwen in that moment, the plant was mistletoe, and Ben had planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Gwen sat in shock for a moment, her face burning. Ben had actually managed to surprise her, for once. She glanced over at her cousin, who was grinning from ear to ear. "What was that, Ben?" Ben's grin became sheepish. "I thought..." Gwen raised an eyebrow, Ben's expression fell. "...You didn't like it?" Gwen rolled her eyes, a smirk on her face. "Of course I liked it, Dweeb." Ben looked at her in surprise. "Huh?" Gwen huffed. "Will this help make sense of things?" Gwen raised the mistletoe over Ben's head and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Ben stared at his ginger cousin in shock. Gwen was smiling softly, her cheeks a rosy red. "It's great. Thanks, Ben." Ben shook himself suddenly, then yanked the box away from Gwen. "Hold on a second." Ben reached into the box, Gwen carefully placed the mistletoe on Ben's sheet,
warily eyeing the box. Ben pulled a pale green necklace from the box, a bright green translucent charm strung on the chain. Gwen's eyes widened.
"Ben... Is that?" Ben grinned, then motioned for Gwen to turn around. Once she had done so, Ben carefully pulled the chain around her neck. "Yep. I had a little help from Greymatter, Upgrade, and Diamondhead." Ben grinned as she turned around, her eyes on the charm. "It's a good thing you showed the original off so much, otherwise it would've taken years to remake this thing." Gwen's green eyes met his, Gwen gave Ben a peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Ben." Ben shrugged. "It's no big deal. Who knows, maybe it's time for Lucky Girl to make a return." Gwen eyed the Charm of Bezel, then eyed Ben. "You sure I won't just 'get in the way'?" She said, putting air quotes around the last phrase. Ben waved her off. "I could use the help."
Ben scooted away from Gwen, who quickly got into a meditation stance. Gwen closed her eyes, only opening one when she realized Ben had gotten into the same stance, but had his right knee firmly placed against her left. She closed her eyes, then focused her mana on the charm around her neck.
"Qui fluebat in hac suavitate fortuna eripuit restituatis, renuntiate mihi virtutem et divinitatem. Restituere, reparatione, renovari leporem!"
Bright blue mana flowed from her hands into the charm, which glowed a bright turqoise. The glow slowly faded, then the two sat in silence.
"Did it work?" Ben asked, slightly skeptical. "Only one way to find out..." Gwen said, leaping to her feet. She reached onto Ben's bedside table, then tossed his lamp into the air. Ben rolled back on his bed instinctively, Gwen reached out and caught the lamp on her pinkie. She grinned to herself, then turned to Ben. "Guess who's back?" Ben grinned. "The Dynamic Duo returns. Look out Bellwood!" The two laughed, Gwen placing the lamp on Ben's table.
"Lucky Girl... Man, it's been awhile." Gwen muttered. She turned back towards Ben, then went to sit beside him. Instead, her socked foot slipped on a Sumo-Slammer Comic book, causing her to fall on top of Ben. Gwen groaned as she slowly pushed herself up. The two pre-teens locked eyes, their faces burning bright. Ben smirked. "Lucky Girl, Huh?" Gwen smiled mischievously. "Yeah, Lucky me." Ben reached his arms up around her, and pulled her into a hug. "You know, I think I like this version better." Ben murmured into her hair, Gwen smiled to herself. "Me too."
The clock struck eleven, Frank glanced up in surprise. "Ah, Hell. I didn't realize how late it was! We need to get going." He reached for his brother's hand, the two shook. "Nice to see you again, Carl." Frank got to his feet, and hugged his sister-in-law. "You too, Sandra."
The family exchanged hugs and handshakes, then Frank began searching the room. "Carl, you see the kids?" Max chuckled. "They're upstairs."
Natalie sighed. "Frank, can you go get them?" Max got to his feet, a smile on his face. "No, it's all right; Natalie. I'll get them."
Max crept up the stairs, then slowly opened Ben's door. "Gwen? Time for you to go, Honey." His eyes widened at the sight before him, then his expression softened. Ben had his face deep in Gwen's hair, Gwen was curled up into Ben. "They in there?" Carl asked from the stairwell.
Max shushed him. "Gwen's asleep. I'll bring her down." Carl seemed satisfied with that response, then crept down to the living room.
Max stepped into the room, then slowly shook the two. "Gwen, honey, it's time to go home." Gwen sleepily pulled away from Ben, then rubbed her eyes. "Grandpa?" Max smiled softly. "Yep, let's get you downstairs, kiddo." Gwen took his hand, and he lead the sleepy girl downstairs.
"Grandpa?" Max eyed his grandson, a smile on his face. "Yeah, Ben?" Ben smiled sleepily, a blanket in hand. "Thanks for the advice."
Hope you all enjoy this one. Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and what not, and have a Happy New-Year! See you all later!