Run

Run Together: Part 05

AN: One small little comment, the song used in this chapter is called Endlessly by the Symphonic Metal band, Amaranthe. This song was released in 2016 and this story takes place in 2005 (ish). I know the timing does not line up but this song was too perfect not to include, so please forgive my creative licensing.

Chapter 06: Run Together Part 05

January started the same way that December ended, cold and snowy. The combined Tennyson families didn't let that stop them from starting the new year on the right foot. The hot chocolate had been made in abundance as everyone, even Max, made their way outside to enjoy the snow.

Ben and Gwen decided to make the most of it and built an epic snow fort, with a little help from the Omnitrix to pack the snow, they launched a barrage of snowballs at Max as he sat on the porch. And so it was, that on January 1st, at approximately 0930 PST, the 'Great Tennyson Snowy War' began. Sides were chosen, bonds were broken, and betrayals were had. Households were divided, husband against wife, sons against their father, but through it all, Ben and Gwen remained loyal to each other.

Knowing that school would start in a few days, everyone made a big deal about the snow war, playing late into the day, stopping only to have lunch or warm up inside for a few minutes.

Of course, the only hold out to the enjoyment was Natalie who refused to participate and instead remained inside reading.

As the day waned into the night, the cold, weary, and laughing survivors trudged into the kitchen, snow shaking off on the floor. Soon everyone was gathered at the dinner table as cups of hot chocolate and a small dinner were served. The conversation drifted from the snow war to the festivities of the night before to everything in between.

Soon the events of the day caught up to everyone and they all tiredly trudged to bed, going their separate ways on the stairs.

Ben and Gwen barely made it to their shared room before they collapsed onto Ben's bed, too tired to do anything but remove their shoes and crawl under the blankets and into each other's arms.

As the opening theme to a popular Disney children's show says, 'school comes along just to end it,' and end the winter break did. A few days later Ben and Gwen found themselves trudging through the snow to class, backpacks heavy as they went. Each step felt weighted down as it took them further from the events of the break. Gwen's hand rose to touch the hidden necklace that Ben had given her for Christmas, a smile on her face as she remembered that night.

Entering the school, both Ben and Gwen forgot everything they had been thinking about as the wash of humanity rushed over them. Each was pulled their separate ways by their groups of friends to catch up after the break. Not long after that the bell rang and school took over their lives once again, and much like the melting snow outside, all good things come to an end.

The rest of January flew by with only the occasional superhero romp for the Tennysons, but as the month was drawing to a close another holiday began to creep up, one filled with pink and red hearts.

Valentine's Day.

A rather strange day that is both loved and hated at the same time and for the same reasons in most cases. To some, it's the holiday of love where they buy and receive gifts and candy for the one they love. For others, it is a reminder that they don't have anyone to buy gifts for or get them from.

For Ben and Gwen, it was loved and hated for a different reason. For them, the holiday is loved because they can send cards to each other without anyone saying anything since the school makes exchanging cards mandatory for all students. However, they both hate the day as they cannot openly be with each other and give the gifts they want to give/get.