Epilogue:

After the Sorénós got locked up, the abducted Chinese got shipped home to their families, the Incurseans got kicked out of the solar system, and all the paperwork got processed, the world–or at least the little corner of it that was Bellwood–had quieted down. The aliens had gone back to Undertown to do whatever they did down there, and the humans on the surface slowly forgot about them.

Mike went back to his routine, splitting his time between his beat and his spot on the precinct's Tactical Unit. When his shift ended, he went to the gym or to his therapist, and mostly stayed out of sight. His name was known on the streets now, and that more or less put paid to any ambition of being a detective working gangs or vice, and he had little ambition to work homicide. The fellas mostly quit ribbing him about fucking an alien, and things slowly got back to where they had been.

All that changed when he spotted the pretty blonde sitting on his desk in that skin-tight uniform. "Officer Mann," Mike greeted Lucy. "Officer Stack," replied the Lenopan woman. Mike hadn't seen Lucy in three weeks, and he'd sorely missed her. "What brings you by," asked Mike? Lucy smiled archly, and he just knew she had something crazy to tell him. "Weelll, after a lot of Ben whining and a lot of the Magister's time spent with the UN, Europol, and the US Department of Justice, Magister Tennyson has decided to form a Local Crimes section," said she. "We're officially authorized to work with the local authorities here on Earth for crimes involving off-worlders." "Wow," breathed Mike.

There was more, and Lucy told him, "you're looking at the second officer to volunteer for the new department..." Frowning, Mike asked, "who's the first?" Lucy rolled her eyes–as did a number of his cohorts. He would ask that! As if that mattered when he had a beautiful woman sitting there at his desk waiting on him. "Ben, of course," said Lucy. "He's pissed and moaned about it enough." Extending a hand, Mike said, "look forward to working with you..." Lucy grabbed that hand and dragged him into her embrace, kissing him thoroughly and earning catcalls from the men in the squad room.

Blushing furiously, Mike decided that they better take this outside before the Captain saw. Grabbing Lucy's hand, he dragged her out the door and down the stairs to the entrance. Standing there in the doorway, he said, "I'm guessing you've made your decision." Nodding, Lucy said, "people in a relationship sacrifice for the people they care about. They try and cover up some of the worst of the warts to make things work. That's what love means. I can't think of someone who I'd rather give up a little of me for than the man who came rushing into two shootouts to save my life." Grinning, she said, "and maybe I can use that drinking habit to my advantage." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, and two brownish antenna sprouted on her forehead.

Smiling back, Mike swept her into his arms and said, "well, I'm not drunk now, and you won't have to get me drunk in the future. I'm happy with Lucy just like she is, whatever she looks like." Lucy lay her head on his shoulder. "Crazy feels good, Officer Stack," she sniffled. "You better believe it, Officer Mann," rumbled Mike.

As Lucy had her reunion, across town, Ben was saying goodbye. He'd known this day was coming when he got married. Attea had an empire to govern, and she couldn't do it from Earth. After her uncle's run at her, it was especially important for her to keep tabs on how things were running.

Standing in the doorway of their bedroom, Ben took another good long look at his wife. She was going to be gone for two months. It was the longest absence since they had become a couple and honestly he missed her already. Just now, she was standing in front of the bed, stuffing a few of her belongings into a bag while she consulted a tablet with a list of the things she needed. He'd talked her out of taking the kids with her, so she wasn't going to have to lug around diapers and baby-food. She was taking her breast-pump. With no kids to drink all the milk, her milky boobies would get a bit uncomfortable after a while.

Slipping up behind her, he eased his arms around her. Having birthed their three children, she was still a little plump, but most of that skinny waist was back. He really couldn't help rubbing her tummy. Her butt was a little bigger too, and her white tights were a little tighter now–not that Ben minded. He liked Attea's cute little ass. Really, he couldn't help copping a feel.

"Mmm," moaned the Frog Princess. That felt nice, but she needed to pack. She was running late as it was, and she shoved his hands away. "Ben," she complained, when those hands went right back to work. Turning around to glare at him did nothing but put her lips in range. The hero delivered a scorching kiss that left her breathless. Her husband pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Pressing his face into her hair, he breathed in her scent. His hands touched her–not in a sexual way, but much like he was trying to memorize every inch of her skin.

To her surprise, Ben knelt there at her feet and put his face against her crotch and stomach. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her there–where their babies had been, causing her to shiver. "Call me," he whispered. "Call me every day. I want to know you're alright." He sounded like he might cry. Those words–the way he said that–almost had her in tears too. Attea grabbed him by his hair and turned his face up to hers. There were tears in his eyes. "You don't get off that easy after touchin' me like that, Ben," growled the little Empress. Grinning that froggy grin of hers, she started stripping off the clothes she'd just put on.

I do apologize if it seemed to some that I had gone off on a tangent. I was kind of setting up the sequel I've been working on, and I wanted to tie it in to this story. I hope that this is a strong enough finish that it somewhat mollifies those who wanted more Omnitrix action, and I hope those who enjoyed this story will enjoy the sequel, Lucy's Engagement.