By the time a backup ship from Plumber headquarters arrived, Ben had managed to scrounge up a pair of energy cuffs that would keep Glace under control. Ma Vreedle had Glace's pet predator well in hand, so the Plumbers focused on hunting down and arresting the remaining slavers and rounding up the alien captives for questioning and any needed medical treatment. Doctor Lake was among them, to Ben's intense shock, and to her credit she didn't seem to hold a grudge against her fellow Plumbers for their accusations but only focused on treating the injured.

To Ben's chagrin, her lawyer was also present… and he and his bodyguards had delved right into the thick of things, wrangling any slavers who refused to surrender to the Plumbers and evacuating the remaining captives from the base. Slizzick himself handled the Polar Manzardill, and with surprising strength he yanked the toothy alien off of Rhomboid's leg and wrestled it into submission.

"It pays to know the basics of physical combat in my line of work," Slizzick explained as he let Rook and Alyxx take charge of his captive. "Attorneys aren't well-liked on any world, and we try to be prepared for that."

Aurora stared in fascination at the waves of rainbow-colored energy glittering atop Slizzick's head. "Pretty," she cooed, reaching out to touch.

"Sweetie, no," Ben ordered, pulling her hands down. "We don't touch people without asking. Even if they are lawyers."

"Awwwww," she pouted.

Slizzick chuckled. "I admit we got off on the wrong foot, Tennyson… but I do have to say that you created an adorable daughter. I do hope that she received your better traits."

Ben could think of a number of things to say in response to that, but none of them were fit for repeating in front of a child. He looked away to collect his thoughts… and winced as his gaze fell on Doctor Lake, who was helping to fit a life-support mask onto Xenia and the Kineceleran boy before they were escorted out of the base. After learning the truth about Glace, he felt like an utter heel for his treatment of the Plumber medic – they'd all assumed her to be the mastermind of this operation at the first sign of trouble, despite everything she'd done for the Plumbers in general… and Aurora in particular. He owed her a huge apology, and had no idea how to approach her about it.

"For the record, the Plumbers are dropping all charges against her," Slizzick told him. "She has refused my legal advice and chooses not to file any suit in retaliation, but will continue to work for your organization. A shame… but then, most in the medical field aren't terribly vindictive, I find."

Ben frowned. "Probably means you're out a big fee, then."

Slizzick shrugged. "Many of my species pursue law not as a career, but simply out of the sheer enjoyment of a case won. A paycheck is a perk, of course… but the enjoyment of a thrilling court battle, whether won or lost, is a reward in and of itself." He sighed and picked up his briefcase. "I'm disappointed that this one never made it to court, but it was unique nonetheless."

"Does this mean you're leaving the Plumbers alone now?" asked Ben.

Slizzick chuckled. "Hardly. Doctor Lake may no longer be my client, but I've already taken on another who should prove to be most interesting."

Ben groaned. "Don't tell me it's Glace."

"I wouldn't defend that insect in court if he were the last possible client in the universe," Slizzick replied, voice cold. "Even my kind have standards. No… my next case involves an individual by the name of Vilgax. It should be interesting, given his lengthy rap sheet, but I enjoy a challenge."

Ben groaned again, pinching the space between his compound eyes. "We're never gonna be rid of you, are we?"

Slizzick just winked and strolled away.

Aurora chirped and leaned against Ben's leg. "Going home, Abru?"

"Yeah, sweetie, we're going home," he assured her, patting the top of her head. "But there's something Abru's gotta do first." And he took her hand and made his way toward Doctor Lake.

The doctor didn't look up until she had finished fitting Xenia's life-support suit… but when her gaze met Ben's it was surprisingly worried. "You're hurt… sit down and let me bandage your wings before we go. You shouldn't shift back to human form in that condition."

"I'll be fine," Ben lied – to be honest his torn wings ached something fierce, but he didn't want to admit it at the moment. "I'm… I'm just here to say I'm sorry. For jumping to conclusions. I shouldn't have been so quick to judge – heck, we all should have…"

His voice trailed off as she raised her hand to silence him. "I can't pretend I'm not upset that everyone was so quick to label me a criminal based on such flimsy evidence. But I understand that everyone was so desperate to catch the scumbag responsible for all this that some stupid decisions were made. I know if it had been my kids in danger, I would have been just as hysterical as you."

"Still, it doesn't excuse…"

"It doesn't… but I'm still a Plumber and a doctor, and I'm not going to neglect my duties just because mistakes were made. I accept your apology, Ben." She smiled a little. "But let me tend your injuries, at least. Your grandfather would never let me hear the end of it if you caught an infection or lost use of your limbs because you were too stubborn to accept treatment."

Ben sighed and sat down, wincing as Lake lifted a tattered wing and began to assess the damages. "Is this going to be your payback for me threatening to beat the tar out of you for what Glace did to Aurora?"

"Now there's a thought," she chuckled. "But no… I'm not about to take out anything on a patient. Just hold still, all right? I'm going to have to stitch some of these so they don't rip further."

Part of Ben insisted that the stitches really hadn't been necessary, and that Lake had insisted on it simply so she could have an excuse to stab him several dozen times with a sharp needle. But he put on a brave face anyhow, mostly so Aurora wouldn't fuss too much over Abru being uncomfortable. And really, with his daughter safe, he could handle being jabbed in the wings repeatedly. At least it was him and not her needing her wings stitched.

Glace didn't even look up at the visitor standing outside their cell. "Come to gloat, Tennyson?"

"No," Ben replied. "Well, maybe a little. Because what's the fun in defeating bad guys if you can't gloat a little over it?"

Glace hissed softly. "Arrogant child to the end. The Rooters were right – you aren't worthy of the Omnitrix."

Aurora had been hiding behind Ben's leg, but she poked her head out and hissed right back at her former teacher. "Don't talk about Abru that way!"

"It's true, little icelet," Glace snapped, switching to the chittering Necrofriggian language. "One day you'll realize just what sort of creature your precious abru is, and you'll wish you chose your family a little more carefully."

"I dunno, I think she's capable of making her own choices just fine," Ben retorted.

Glace's antennae quivered in shock. "How did… you know…"

"I've been studying in my spare time over the past few weeks," Ben replied. "It's not too hard to pick up once you get the hang of it. Plus Aurora's been learning English all this time, so why shouldn't I learn her language too?"

It had been almost two months since the battle against Glace's slavers on Pluto. Things back at the base had gone mostly back to normal – Doctor Lake had settled back into her office and kept treating injured trainees, Alyxx had returned to her duties after a brief period of leave to take her sister home, and a new instructor for Glace's old combat classes had been found. The aliens they had recovered from the Pluto base had returned to their homes, and Plumber missions were being organized and sent out to hunt down and rescue any of the slaves they hadn't managed to rescue in time.

Even Glace's savage pet had gotten something of a happy ending – it was currently en route to a zoo on Galvan Prime, where it would become part of a conservation effort to save its kind from extinction. Ben didn't particularly relish the thought of the overgrown bug living to breed more Necrofriggian-eating babies, but seeing as the Necrofriggians themselves actually supported keeping them from dying out, who was he to judge?

As for Glace… they were scheduled to be shipped off to the Null Void soon. Despite his disgust toward Aurora's former mentor, Ben couldn't help but feel a shred of sympathy for him. The Null Void was full of prisoners, many captured and sentenced by the Plumbers, and he doubted it'd be a pleasant place for an ex-Plumber to find themselves. Still, Glace had brought it on themselves, and at least there they'd no longer be a threat to anyone.

"So you've won," Glace muttered, looking down at the energy cuffs that bound their wrists and ankles and prevented them from phasing. "You defeated me and now get to raise your daughter as a human. Congratulations. I hope you feel proud of yourself for denying her heritage, and forcing her into a world where she will never fit in."

Ben leaned against the thick transparent plastic that separated them. "You still think I'm going to ruin her just because I'm a human, don't you?"

Glace snarled. "She is Necrofriggian. She belongs with her kind. You've already corrupted her enough."

"She's part human too," Ben countered. "And I'm not going to deny her heritage. I spend a lot of time around her in my Necrofriggian form, and Azmuth's going to help me teach her more about her kind's history and culture. But if she's happy with life among humans, and wants to wear clothes or watch Disney movies or go to a human school, I'm not going to deny her that."

Glace's eyes glittered with hatred. "She will grow up to resent you. I promise you that. At least with me, she would not be confused as to her heritage. And she is my child as much as yours – you cannot deny THAT, Ben Tennyson."

Ben shook his head. "You know, if you'd just come up to me and told me right out you were Aurora's DNA donor, I might have let you help raise her. She still would have been mine, but we could have co-parented or something. But you kidnapped her and held her prisoner… and she told me you were physically rough with her while she was at your base. If I'm a bad parent, then what does that make you?"

Glace rasped angrily. "So you bring her before me to rub it in that you're the better parent, eh? Arrogant son of a…" Their voice trailed off into a few chittered words of Necrofriggian – words Ben didn't understand yet but was pretty sure meant something obscene.

"I brought her here because she's been terrified over the past few weeks that you were going to escape and come after her again," Ben replied. "I brought her here to show her that you're contained… and that after tomorrow, you'll never be able to hurt her again. She's safe from you."

Aurora hugged tightly against Ben's leg. "Can we go home now? Wanna see Gran'mah and Gran'pah again."

Ben smiled and stroked the top of her head gently. "Yes, Aurora… we're going home now."

Glace slumped in defeat, but apparently couldn't resist one last parting shot. "Criminals have escaped the Null Void before, Tennyson. I will come back… and I will make you regret that you took my child from me. I will have your blood for this."

Ben rolled his eyes. "I've heard threats like that so many times it's not even scary anymore, Glace. But if you do come back… I'll be ready." And he squeezed Aurora's hand lightly and led her away.

A small crowd awaited him as he left the brig, and Rook tilted his head curiously. "How did it go?"

"Better than I expected," Ben replied. "Looks like I made another enemy, though."

Gwen folded her arms, giving him an exasperated look. "Only you could be so… blase… about making so many enemies, Ben."

"Isn't there a saying that if you don't make any enemies, you're not really living?" asked Kevin with a smirk.

"Of course you'd think that," Gwen muttered.

"The important thing is that we know Aurora's safe now," Max replied. "Aurora and other aliens on Earth and throughout the galaxy. At least from this particular threat."

"There will always be others," Rook acknowledged. "But that is why the Plumbers exist - to counter those threats."

Aurora chirped and pumped a little fist into the air. "Kick butt! Me an' Plumbers an' Abru!"

"Not you for a long time," Max chided. "And not your abru, not for awhile. He's still on light duty until you're a little older."

Ben made a little face at that. "I guess I can live with that. Still… maybe Azmuth needs to make Aurora her own little Omnitrix, so she can join me on my adventures."

Aurora nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Wanna be a hero too!"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "She's definitely yours, Ben."

Ben just beamed proudly and patted the little hatchling's head. He and Aurora fighting evil side by side someday… he liked the sound of that. Very much.

"You know, every parent says it about their kids," Mom noted as Ben tucked a thin blanket around the sleeping hatchling. "But it's true here too – she looks like a little angel when she's asleep."

"A little blue moth angel?" Ben whispered, smirking.

"Hey, I think angels can come in all shapes and sizes," Mom replied with a smile. "Even if they're moths or butterflies." She shivered and pulled her parka more closely around her. "But let's not stand here and watch her sleep too long. We'll freeze to death."

Ben laughed, but couldn't resist giving Aurora one last pat on the head before turning to leave her refrigerated bedroom. There were a few disadvantages to having a kid who needed to sleep someplace cold… but it was still worth it in his mind.

Mom ducked out of the bedroom, but he paused at the doorway to linger, looking around Aurora's room. Despite being frigid, it wasn't too different from any little-girl's bedroom – plush toys crowded the canopy bed, picture books crammed the small bookshelf, Disney movie posters plastered the walls, and an assortment of My Little Pony toys and (to Ben's secret delight) Sumo Slammers figures littered the floor. Dresses and shirts in a variety of colors hung in the closet, and coloring pages lay scattered on the small desk. If one ignored the temperature, they could look in here and assume this was just an ordinary human girl's room.

Ben smiled to himself. Perhaps Glace meant well in wanting to ensure Aurora didn't forget her Necrofriggian heritage. But if human toys and shows and clothes made her happy, who was he to stop her from enjoying them? Besides, she deserved to know about her human heritage as well. She was a child of two worlds, and it wasn't right to deny her either one of them.

"Ben, shut the door!" Dad called out. "You don't need to freeze out the whole house."

"Sorry." He let the door swing closed. "Just enjoying the moment, I guess. Tomorrow's a big day, after all."

"She's just starting school, not leaving forever," Dad pointed out. "You'll see her again."

"I'm still not sure if her starting at a human school is the right thing," Mom fretted. "Human kids are cruel enough to other humans – how are they going to treat an alien?"

"Mom, she can pass through solid objects, breathe ice, and fly," Ben pointed out. "She can handle herself. But if things get too messy, I'll talk to Grandpa. The Plumbers have ways to disguise her so she looks human." Though he wanted to avoid giving her an ID mask unless they had no choice – the last thing he wanted to do was make her feel ashamed of being Necrofriggian.

"I just worry is all," Mom replied. "She's our granddaughter, and we don't want anything bad happening to her." She gave Ben a little smile. "I'm proud of you, sweetheart. I know it was rough, getting used to her being here and adjusting our lives around her, but she's been a joy to have around."

"Aw, Mom…" Ben rubbed the back of his head, blushing slightly. "Still kind of rough juggling school and parenthood, and I hate being semi-retired from the hero business… but it really has been worth it."

"I'm proud of you," Mom repeated. "Having her around has matured you. Not that you weren't responsible before…"

"Mom, I was totally irresponsible," Ben retorted, laughing. "This is me we're talking about."

"At least he owns up to it, honey," Dad pointed out.

Mom lightly punched his shoulder. "Be nice to him, dear… what's that noise?"

Ben froze and listened closely, frowning. Something was scratching at the front door, like a cat begging to be let in out of the rain. But it wasn't raining, they didn't own a cat… and was that fluttering he heard too? And some kind of chirping…

Oh no… it can't be… He reached the door in two strides and flung it open.

It was exactly what he thought it would be – a cluster of winged blue forms, like chubby humanoid moths. Two of them stood on the doorstep like Girl Scouts selling cookies, their wings drooped over their shoulders in awkward imitation of the cowl-like drape of an adult's wings. Four or five others hovered in the air, their bright green eyes glittering in the moonlight. And they all fixed Ben with expressions that would have looked utterly alien to an ordinary human… but that Ben had come to recognize as looks of utter adoration.

"Abru!" one of the hatchlings on the doorstep chirped. "Hello, Abru!"

"Abru!" The rest of the Necrofriggians took up the call, squeaking and chittering excitedly at their find.

Ben turned to look at his dumbfounded parents, then back at what was apparently the rest of his brood. Then he let out a deep sigh… and opened the door wider.

"Come on in," he told them. "Don't wake your sister. I'm calling Grandpa Max for help on this one…"

Author's Note

I don't consider myself a hardcore fan of Ben 10, but I watched the original four shows (still haven't seen the reboot) and enjoyed them very much – especially the imaginative alien races, and the unique designs to said alien races. And of course, my favorite episode of all time would have to be "Save the Last Dance," where Ben is trapped in his Big Chill/Necrofriggian form and ends up laying eggs and having babies. And like many fans, I was sorely disappointed when said babies never reappeared and the episode was only reference for laughs a couple times in later episodes.

I don't exactly read Ben 10 fanfic, so I have no idea if "Ben's Necrofriggian babies come back to haunt him" is a common fanfic theme or not. If it is, I at least hope my take on it was somewhat unique. And baby Necrofriggians just need more love, dangit.

I'm aware there are some continuity errors in this fic, which I ascribe to not having seen the show for a few years and not remembering certain elements (such as Pluto apparently being destroyed by the Incursions at some point). My lame defense is that Alien X probably fixed it – and if the show can use Alien X as a Deus Ex Machina and/or continuity fixer from time to time, then fanfic writers can too.

Slizzick is not a character from the show – he is an original character of mine. I simply wanted an excuse to throw him into a fic at some point.

This will most likely be my first, last, and only foray into Ben 10 fanfic… though I say "most likely" because I've said this very thing before and been very, very wrong. I only intended to write a single Transformers fic and having that be the end of it, and ten years and umpteen TF fics later, look where I'm at…

Huge thanks to BassLineRaver for encouraging and beta-reading this fic. And for introducing me to Ben 10 in the first place.

Thank you for reading!