Disclaimer: Ben 10 is property of Man of Action and Cartoon Network.

So I know that I've been gone a long time since recovering this account, and... I'm sorry. I've been so busy trying to get my life back on track after... the passing... and I didn't have time to work on the computer much. Only recently did I come on here and find... well, the account. And everything came rushing back. My girlfriend, sympathetic, read everything Kai wrote, and persuaded me to write for him again.

So I'm back. And this story, along with the others that are to come, will be dedicated to him.

Title: When your Best isn't Enough

Theme(s): Romance, action, adventure, hurt/comfort

Summary: "I know that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I always said that when the time came, the fame and fortune wouldn't matter a bit. That'd I'd be ready to fight. But this time... I fought and not only did I lose, but someone died. Someone that shouldn't have died, did. Gwen... what do you do when your best... just isn't enough?"

Story length: More then 15 chapters

Romance: Gwen/Kevin

Ben/Julie

Warnings: Language and death themes

(Third Person POV)

"Ben. Look at me."

As if she expected, the 16-year old clad in a tear-stained green jacket refused to respond or even acknowledge her presence. He may be her cousin and she may love him to death, but one could only take so much.

"BEN!" Dull emerald eyes met stern, solid jade eyes.

"You can't mope about forever," Gwen said, staring at her cousin sternly. He, however, barely seemed to notice her sternness.

"I can," he said quietly, blinking a few times to clear black dots from his eyes.

Gwen sighed. Even in moping, his stubbornness knew no bounds. Walking over to the shades that kept the sunlight from flooding through Ben's dim room, Gwen pulled down on the string. Sunlight rushed into the room and caused Ben to shield his eyes.

"C'mon. Up," Gwen said, reached down to tug on Ben's arm. "You've been locked in your room for 4 days now, you have barely eaten, haven't changed, and judging by the imprint in your comforter, I'd say you haven't moved either. You are coming outside, now."

"No, Gwen. Just let me be," Ben said tiredly. Judging by his voice, Gwen deduced he hadn't slept much in those 4 days locked away.

'Probably nightmares...' Gwen thought to herself, recognizing the dark bags underneath his eyes.

"You can either get up on your own," Gwen said, eying her cousin. He didn't look eager to move. "Or, I can make you get up."

Ben raised an eyebrow at her, obviously forgetting her powers. When he made no move to get up, Gwen sighed. It took her no time to encase Ben in a pink sphere and levitate him, causing a few protests to escape Ben's mouth.

"Gwen! C'mon! Please, just put me down!" Ben begged, not wanting to be carried downstairs. Gwen heard naught.

"No, we're going to see Kevin," Gwen said, ignoring Ben's protests. Ben grit his teeth and banged against the mana sphere. His fists didn't even dent the pink ball. Despite being weakened from hunger and lack of movement, Gwen had to admire Ben's fighting- or now fighting- spirit. Despite the depression, he seemed to be determined as ever.

Ben peered down at the green gauntlet on his wrist, trying to decide if he should activate the device to escape. His hand slipped toward the dial before a scream split his mind.

"MOMMY, NO!"

"Ben?" Gwen asked, sensing a disturbance in the emotions around her. She was no empath, but a sharp feeling of regret and remorse flowed through the air as if it were magic. Plus, Ben's scream was a giveaway.

"Ben!" Gwen shouted. She turned around to see Ben laying in the sphere, unconscious. She was quick to kneel next to his body and feel for a pulse. Despite finding one, it was easy to see Ben was in bad shape. "Come back to me, Ben!"

When Ben failed to respond, Gwen knew she didn't have much she could do. They weren't even to the street yet. Looking back between her unconscious cousin and the DX Mark 10, Gwen realized there wasn't enough time to haul him to the car and drive him to Kevin's garage. She would need to teleport them if she was to get there in time.

Standing up, Gwen shouted, "Abeo Exorior!"

Within a few seconds, a pink sphere caused two teens to disappear. But not before one more scream was heard...

Yes, this was a positively awful chapter. I am fully aware of that. It's going to take a chapter or two to get into the flow of writing. If you could, please don't flame at all. Would rather hear nothing then negativity. Oh, and the chapters following this, I promise will be better and longer. Like, 2,000 words or more. I promise. Sorry for the chapter, review! Thank you.