Reconciliation

Chapter 17:

Asking a Big Favor

 “Have you heard anything, yet?” Gwen asked, for what seemed to be the millionth time.

“No Gwen, I haven’t heard anything yet, and if you keep asking I’m going to go nuts.”

“I’m sorry Ben, this is all new to me.”

“And you think this is all ‘old news’ to me?!”

“I might be about to become either a father, or a widower!”

“Wait a minute, Ben are you sayin’ that you and Albedo got married,” Kevin asked.

“No Kev, I’m not saying that, but in a few months I’ll be in the same situation as he’s in so from my point of view it seems like the right thing to do!”

“There is one thing more,” Ben added, “We know that there might be only a slim chance of Albedo surviving this, and the same may be true for me.”

“Ben, don’t talk that way!” Gwen snapped.

“Gwen just listen!” Ben almost shouted while at the same time feeling a mild stab of pain in his belly.

“If the babies survive this, but Albedo and I don’t, I want you and Kevin to raise them.”

“I also want you to try and talk Azmuth into passing the Omnitrix on to one of them, if he sees fit.”

“Ben do you know what you’re askin’,” Kev asked him.

“Yes, Kevin I do know what I’m asking; and also I know I’m depending on the right people.”

Kevin and Gwen each heard the plea in Ben’s voice, and it tore them apart.

Gwen was Ben’s cousin, but she had come to relate to him as his sister.

Likewise, even though they had begun their relationship as people on opposite sides of the law, Kevin couldn’t imagine his life without Ben as part of it. 

“Guys will you do this for me please, If Albedo and I are unable to raise our kids I can’t imagine two other people I would rather ask to do the job.”

“Ben, if you didn’t know the answer, would you be askin’,” Kevin asked him.

“No, Kev,” Ben replied.

“I’m in.” Kevin said simply.

“Ben I would have done it if you hadn’t asked,” Gwen said.

“Thank you both,” Ben said, as he began to cry, “I’m sorry guys, it’s just the hormones.”

“Of course it is Ben; of course it is,” Gwen told him as she put her arms around him while Kevin put a hand on his shoulder.