Ben Tennyson rolled over in his bed to stare at his companion. "It hasn't been like that in a while, whats up?" Gwen smiled. "I guess it's just good to get back out there, you know. Even though Granpa's missing and we have these new enemies to deal with, it's still so great to actually be doing this again. It just all seems so perfect," she said. "Yeah, like the good old days," Ben said, laughing. "You look tired, you should get some sleep." "mmn," Gwen responded, already drifting off.
Ben watched her, something he hadn't taken the time to do in a long time. He had forgotten how graceful she looked in battle. And how smart she was in tight situations. She always made him feel dumb, but he didn't mind. He needed it. She was a part of him; had been ever since that summer, which seemed like a lifetime ago now. Things had certainly changed.
Some changes Ben didn't mind so much. Some of the changes in Gwen for instance. There were others however, that bothered him. He had seen the looks Kevin had given her. He knew Gwen wouldn't ever give into Kevin, but it still bothered him. But that was ok, he trusted her. He trusted her because he knew her. And she knew him too, better than anyone. It was true they fought a lot, not as much now as they used to, but everyone agreed that they were close. Everyone had no idea how close they really were.
Ben watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. He reached a hand out and stroked her hair. She moved a little closer to him in her sleep. This was everything to him. He knew that there were problems with their relationship. If anyone ever found out that he was sleeping with his cousin, that would be the end of what normal life he had. And there was always the risk that one of them could be seriously hurt in a fight, or worse. But Ben didn't care right now. Now he needed her. He laid down beside the only person who truly understood him and began to dream of a summer, many years past, when he had finally seen her for who she truly was.