Chapter Text
My name is Carl Tennyson. Yeah, pretty original name isn't it? I have an older brother named Frank who I've always looked up to, a father that I'm pretty disappointed in, and a mother who turned out to be an Anodite alien from another planet called Anodine. Don't believe me? Well, I can't blame you. It does seem pretty farfetched, but it's the truth. Well if my mother being an alien isn't a big shocker, than you should know that the Tennysons have been keeping big secrets. My father, Max, is apart of a big secret organization called "The Plumbers" and he's been fighting, studying, or learning from aliens he encounters. Growing up in the Tennyson's household wasn't easy for me. My mother, Verdona, would be at home with me and Frank while my father went off to work which I believed at the time he was an ordinary plumber that went to people's homes and fixed broken toilets or pipes.
One night, he came home from work with some wounds which scared me and Frank. My mother pleaded to my father that he would start telling us his big secret. He had nodded and left the room. I wasn't sure what she meant by that, until my father came back into the room with a weapon of some kind that Frank and I have never seen before. My father explained what The Plumbers were and what they did. Frank found the weapon cool, but I hated it. How could my father risk his life like that and why didn't he tell me and Frank sooner?
I became angry after that and it got worse when my father kept revealing more pieces of his secret life to me and Frank as we were growing up. My brother seemed cool with it and I'll never understand why. My father had no right to meddle in something that isn't even his problem. I wanted him to get his head out of space and back down to Earth where it was normal. Then, that sad day came when my mother decided to leave. Frank was 21 and I was 18. It seemed just like yesterday when it happened. It was a warm Summer's night. Frank came into my room and woke me.
"What?" I asked groggy
"Mom and Dad want to talk to us," said Frank
I got out of bed and followed my brother into the living room where my parents stood. They both looked upset which had me and Frank concerned.
"What's the matter?" I asked
"Boys, there's something we need to tell you," said Max
"Are you two getting a divorce?" I asked
"CARL! HOW DARE YOU SAY SUCH A THING!" Frank snapped
"No, it's not that boys, it's..." Max started to say
"You know that your father was keeping secrets from you and I've been keeping something from you two," Verdona butted in
"What is it?" Frank asked
My mother sighed and looked at me and Frank with eyes of fear and worry.
"I am not from Earth. I am an alien. My race is called Anodite," said Verdona
Frank and I looked at each other with confusion and then looked back at our parents. Had my mother finally lost it? This was ridiculous. There's no way my mother was an alien. She had to be teasing us or so I thought at the time.
"Come on mom, that's crazy," said Frank
"He's right, you're not an alien," I said
"I was afraid of that," said Verdona
Suddenly, there was a flash of light and my mother's skin fell off leaving me & Frank stunned. We couldn't believe what we were seeing in front of our eyes. My mother just transformed into a purple like alien creature. Her eyes and hair glowed with brightness and she began to levitate, but soon came back down to the floor. Max took her hand and held it.
"Okay, what the hell is going on?" I asked now suddenly wide awake
"I don't understand," said Frank
"Your mother is an Anodite and she's leaving tonight," said Max
"WHAT!" I practically screamed
"Where is she going?" asked Frank
"My boys, my dear sweet sons. I must return to my planet, Anodine. I have been on Earth for a long time and I'm starting to feel sick, I'm becoming weak. For years, Earth has been draining me slowly," said Verdona
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" asked Frank
"I didn't think you could handle the truth back then. I decided to wait until you were both old enough to start living on your own, where you don't need us anymore," said Verdona
"I'll always need you mother. I want you to stay here with us," I said
"I know baby, but I must go. If I don't leave, I could die," replied Verdona
My eyes widened and Frank looked like he was about to cry. My mother grabbed her skin, put it back on, and we all headed out to the backyard to say goodbye. My mother approached Frank first and she took him in her arms. She was whispering something in his ear and that's when my bother began to sob. He hugged my mother tightly for a few moments and then let go. Then my mother approached me and pulled me into a hug.
"Oh Carl, my youngest baby. I'll miss you the most. I know that you've been angry at your father because of the secrets he kept from you, but just remember that he loves you and wants to protect you & Frank and I love you," Verdona whispered in my ear
"Mother don't go!" I sobbed hugging her tightly
"I know baby. I don't want to go either, but I have to," she responded sadly
After we hugged each other for a few moments, I let go of her. My mother then approached my father, who seemed more upset than me and Frank. They both hugged each other and shared a kiss. Then my mother began to levitate in the air. My father kept a hold of her hand until his hand slipped from hers.
"Goodbye my darlings, I'll miss you," said Verdona
Then in a blink of an eye, she disappeared in the night sky. My father, Frank, and I stared up at the night sky for a few moments before going back inside. I just couldn't believe what had happened. First my dad kept a secret life from me and Frank, lied to us day after day, and now my mother left us because she was an alien that was becoming ill due to living on Earth too long. Nothing made sense anymore.
"I'm sorry boys. I wish we had told you sooner and I didn't think she was going to leave tonight," said Max
"Wait a minute, you knew that mom was going to leave? YOU KNEW!" I started to shout
"Carl, calm down," my brother butted in
"Shut up Frank!" I snapped at him
"Hey, don't talk to your brother like that!" my father snapped
"DAD, HOW DARE YOU LIE TO US! BECAUSE OF YOU, WE MAY NOT GET TO SEE MOM AGAIN!"
"You think her leaving is killing you?! It's hurting me more than you and Frank! YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SACRIFICE SOMETHING FOR THE ONE YOU LOVE!"
"THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD IT! I'M SICK OF YOU AND YOUR DAMN LIES! I'M MOVING OUT OF THIS CRAPPY DUMP TOMORROW!"
"FINE!"
I stormed off to my room as my father stormed off into his den. Frank remained in the living room unsure of what to do. I couldn't sleep. I was so angry and upset. I decided to pack my bags. That's when there was a knock on my door.
"I don't want to talk to you dad!" I shouted
"It's me Carl," said Frank
I didn't say anything and just continued packing my bags. Of course, Frank invited himself in.
"Carl, can we talk?" asked Frank
"No! There's nothing left to say," I said angrily stuffing more clothes in my bag
"Look, I'm upset too about mom leaving, but you can't be angry at dad for that."
"Frank, dad lied to us our whole lives, why can't you see that?"
"It was for our protection! Why can't you see that?"
"Protection from what? Aliens? What complete bullshit!"
"So you don't believe in aliens? Mom is an alien or did you suddenly forget that?"
"Look Frank, this has happened way too fast for me and I can't soak it all in like you can."
"So you're serious about moving out?"
"Of course I am! If I were you I'd move out too."
"I plan to move out when I'm done with law school."
"Oh sure, just continue living here with the liar."
"CARL!"
"I'm sorry Frank, but I need to get out of here. I need a place of my own so I can think!"
"Well I'm sorry you feel this way and since you're leaving, I want you to have something."
Frank left my room and came back in a few minutes later. He took my hand and placed a small roll of money in it that was wrapped with a rubber band.
"What's this?" I asked
"It's $300, I want you to have it," said Frank
"Frank, I can't take your money."
"Yes you can. Look, if you're going to find yourself an apartment, you'll need to make a security deposit. You may not have the greatest job in the world, but I know someone that can rent you an apartment at a good price."
Frank then handed me a small slip of paper with a name and a phone number. I just didn't know what else to say. All I could do was hug my brother.
"Thanks Frank. You know this means a lot to me," I said
"You're welcome and before you go, there's something I want you to think about," he said
"What's that?"
"I know that you've been angry at dad for years, but you must let this anger go sometime. I don't want to see our family tear apart over something stupid. Please don't stay angry at him. Mom wouldn't want you to be."
"Okay, but for right now I need to get out on my own, I need to think, I need breathing room."
"I understand, good luck little brother."
Frank then left my room and closed the door. I got back to packing my things and I placed the money and the paper slip in my pocket. After I packed what I was going to take, I went to bed. I only slept for a few hours. I decided to get up early that morning so my father and brother couldn't see me go. Before leaving the house, I wrote a note saying that I'll come back for the rest of my stuff and put it on my bedroom door. I know my brother would see it, but I'm sure my father could care less. I loaded my car with my packed bags, looked at the home I grew up in one last time, got in my car, and headed off.
That day, I went over to a friend's house. He let me stay with him until I found an apartment and thanks to my brother, I ended up getting one by the end of the week. I moved in immediately after getting the keys. My brother came by with the rest of the stuff and helped me move in. It was a nice place that had one bedroom with a bathroom, a small kitchen, a laundry room, and a living room. This apartment was the start of my new independence and I have lived here for 3 years. A lot has happened through those 3 years.
I've been in and out of dating and I've been through 4 different relationships that didn't work out. You see if I'm going to have a woman in my life, I don't want to hide any secrets from her, but every time I told my ex's the Tennyson's secrets, they didn't believe me and they eventually ended the relationship. I've been called a weirdo, freak, and was even given a suggestion to march to the chair of my psychologist. So I wasn't successful at impressing a girl, but at least I was being honest about my life. My brother, however, was doing a lot better in his love life than I was doing in mine. In fact, he just got married to the love of his life, Natalie, and tonight was the wedding reception celebration. Even though I received an invite, I wasn't sure if I should go or not. After thinking about it awhile, I decided to go because it would make my brother happy. A few hours before driving to the wedding reception, I got into my tux, combed back my hair, and grabbed my favorite gum. For some reason, I enjoy chewing gum when I drive. Anyways, when I arrived, it was pretty crowded. I walked around and just watched everyone mingle. Some were talking to each other, others were sitting and laughing, and a few others were eating snacks at their table.
"Carl, you made it!" Frank said approaching
I turned around to see my brother open his arms and he pulled me into a hug. Following him was his new wife Natalie. I've only met her a few times. After being hugged by my brother, my new sister in law hugged me pretty tight.
"It's good to see you again Carl," said Natalie
"Likewise and you look beautiful," I said while fixing my bow.
"Thank you."
"So, what has Frank been telling you about our family?"
"Oh nothing bad. Just that you're family is pretty busy esp. your father. I never thought that being a plumber could be difficult."
"Ah, so you finally know that..."
"Fixing broken pipes and toilets can be hell," interrupted Frank
"You didn't tell her?" I asked looking at Frank
"Tell me what?" asked Natalie
"Excuse us Natalie. I need to speak to Carl in private," said Frank grabbing my arm and pulling me to the other side of the room
"Uh, okay?" said Natalie confused as she watched us leave
I looked back at Natalie and she was approached by other people. It was probably a good thing for Frank that somebody was distracting her. Frank let go and shoved me. I don't see why he was so upset.
"What the hell is wrong with you Carl?!" Frank snapped
"What did I do?" I asked confused
"You almost exposed the family secret to her!"
"Wait a minute. You weren't going to tell her?"
"Of course not! She doesn't need to know."
"Well, what about mom, does Natalie know about her?"
"I only told her that the reason our mother isn't here is because she's traveling."
"Wow Frank, what a way to start your marriage by lying to your wife."
"Carl, I'm just trying to protect her the way dad was protecting us."
"Well that's just so like you to be like dad. You know Natalie's going to eventually find out right?"
"My wife doesn't need to be involved with our family's secrets."
"Well Frank, if I had a woman in my life, I wouldn't keep secrets from her."
"Carl, how many relationships have you been in?"
"Four."
"And why do you suppose that is?"
"I just can't find a woman that understands me."
"Well maybe you will if you don't mention our family secrets, but the way you share our family secrets Carl, you'll never get married."
Frank and I just stood there in silence for a few moments. I could not believe that my brother just said that. Hearing those words come from the guy I looked up to did hurt.
"Carl, I didn't mean...," Frank started to say
"I need some fresh air," I said walking past him
"Carl!"
"Leave me alone!"
I stormed outside and started entering the parking lot. That's when a I felt a hand touch my shoulder.
"FRANK WILL YOU JUST PISS OFF!" I snapped turning around
My expression changed quickly when I realized it wasn't Frank, but my father. He seemed a bit surprised.
"Oh, hi dad," I said in a calm tone
"Hi," Max responded
"Sorry, I thought you were Frank."
"What happened?"
"It's nothing dad. I just need to be alone right now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"NO! I just you and everyone else to leave me alone!"
I then turned around and walked away. I wasn't sure what my father did after that, but I assumed he went to go talk to Frank. It has been a long time since I last spoke to my father. As I walked along the road, I was thinking about my past; my mother, my father, and my brother. I then started asking myself what went wrong or was it something I have caused? Eventually, I came to a bridge. I decided to stop and look at the view. I have to admit that the moon makes the scene beautiful. I sighed and pulled out my gum. I decided to chew the rest of it.
"Oh, I remember when people said to me 'Carl, you are one lucky son of a bitch.' When did things start going wrong in my life?" I asked myself
Okay guys, I'm going to end the first chapter here, but the next one will open to Carl's first encounter with Sandra. Anyways, I wanted to point out that I have changed Verdona's story a bit and wanted her to leave Earth for a different reason. In the episode of Ben 10 "What Little Girls Are Made Of," Verdona stated that she went back to her planet because she was all by herself. Frank and Carl were already grown, on their own, and Max was busy saving the universe. She felt that there was no reason to be living on Earth anymore. She also stated that she and Max grew apart. So, in this fanfic, I gave Verdona a different reason to leave Earth and wanted to have Frank and Carl show how they feel about it which also leads to Carl & Max going down different paths.
That's all for now. I will be posting the next chapter soon.