I'm lacking the creative ingenuity to provide a clever and witty name (Character Chat 5)

Spread out along the table was slices of ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, ham and potato soup, and plates of snickerdoodle cookies for dessert. Empty plates and silverware were set up. Ben came up behind Runner. "Help yourself. We're not a very fancy family," he chuckled.

He reached in the cabinet, pulling out enough plates for everyone. "Damn kid can cook like a pro, but he always forgets the food needs to be eaten in a civilized manner." He sounded more amused than anything.

Ben chuckled. "That girl sure does love her food. Goes straight to her heart, it does. Kids! Time to eat!" He grabbed a plate for himself and sat down, dishing food onto it.

Tess strolled in, looking accomplished, and Zeus slunk in after her. Angel thundered down the steps, screaming to leave her some food. Alex followed her, albeit a little quieter and slower.

Tess scooped up a plate and piled on the food, not shy about being a hog and starving. She sat next to Runner. Diana finally entered the kitchen, smiling at the kids and sitting down as well. Soon, everyone was eating peacefully.

"So, Tess," Ben said. "I've heard from Rawling that you're planning something big, eh?"
She nodded. "Mhmm." She had a mouth full of ham, so she couldn't speak.
He hid his smile with his fork. "I bet Diego was happy to see you. That boy adores you."
She just about choked from the words, but thankfully didn't.

Diana answered him. "Oh, just a fellow member of the Rawling crime family. One of the ones who helped take care of Tessa. He's young, for his position, but he's good at his job."

Angel turned her big eyes on Runner and Tessa. "When are you gonna get maaaaarried?"
Tessa's eyes practically bulged out her head. "Angel!"
Diana and Ben smothered their laughter. Zeus didn't bother hiding it. Alex looked almost as stricken as Tess.

She pouted, crossing her chubby toddler arms. "But whyyyyyyy?"

Angel opened her mouth to ask something else, but Alex stopped her smoothly. "Angel, I saw you watching that one show of yours. Could you tell me more about it?"
Tess shot him a grateful look, and he mouthed Ferrari. A thank you.

Tessa leaned over and whispered in his ear so no one else heard–even Zeus. "Remember, you promised me five minutes."

She snickered and went back to eating, acting as if nothing ever happened.

He gave a thumbs up. "Ben helped." Ben waved it off, saying he didn't do much.

Almost all nodded, saying that he was basically family since Tess rarely wasn't too stubborn to open up to someone. Tess scowled at them halfheartedly, saying she wasn't that stuck-up.

Even when they were all done eating, the family talked amongst each other, bickering and laughing, and even included Runner. Even Alex, though he was still wary of Tess. The cookies were eventually passed around, and there was no limit as to how many someone was allowed to take.