Ben, as Diamond Head had knocked Dr. Animo down off his giant frog and Gwen had tied him in a mana ring. All of Animo's mutated creatures had either been disabled or had run away. As authorities arrived the two heroes walked away from the scene. "That sleep spell was a great move Gwen." She had taken most of the mutant animals out of the fight with it. Surprised by the complement Gwen hesitated looking for what he might be setting her up for but it seemed genuine. "Thanks Ben, you didn't do so bad yourself."
Ben had been really surprised at how well this battle had gone. Although, he had responded with his usual bravado when class had been dismissed so he and Gwen could deal with the oncoming threat, seeing how many mutated animals Animo had brought, of course to a place full of innocent bystanders, he wasn't Shure he could do this without a lot of other people getting hurt. Fortunately he and Gwen had function like a well-oiled machine. They had kept in sync like an elaborate dance, and they had danced circles around Amino and all of his mutants.
"It looks like class is out for the day." Gwen said as she looked back at the school, which had only suffered minor damage during the fight. "So, what do you want to do now?" Ben considered for a moment and said "Why don't we reward our self's for a job well done? I know a good pizza place, my treat." "Alright, just don't disappear into the game room and leave me at the table alone." Ben answered in a deliberately exaggerated tone. "I Promise!"
The two arrive at Sir Cheesealots pizza castle. The place of course was overdone with the medieval and fairy tale theme. The walls and counters were made to look like stone, the lights were made to look like torches and the entrance to the game room was a "stone" archway. Ben and Gwen looked at the menu and, without too much arguing settled on a peperoni and pineapple pizza. Then they sat down in the "Great dining hall."
"Well Ben", Gwen started, "I hate to admit it but those were some slick moves today.
"Thanks, and thanks for watching my back especially when Animo had that ray gun or whatever it was pointed at me.
"No problem, she responded.
"Yeah" he said, I'll tell you what is a problem though, the short duration on this thing." He said holding up his left wrist. Man, why wouldn't older me tell me how to break the code on this thing?
"Ben, you know you're better off if you earn that knowledge for yourself. Of course that wasn't his reason. He wouldn't tell you because he was a jerk, if you haven't forgotten. That's why you made me promise not to ever let you turn into him."
Yeah", Ben continued, "And that reminds me, I thought of something".
Gwen gave looked at him with mock astonishment "Be careful about that, you'll hurt yourself."
"Funny, Gwen, real funny. What I was about to say is that, as big of a jerk as he was, why didn't Gwendolyn leave him. She didn't have to stay in his shadow. She could have gone where she would be appreciated."
"Well", Gwen started but was interrupted by Ben.
"I'll tell you why, because she's you. I had a lot of time to think about this and I realized, that, in any universe you'll always stand with me and I guess I haven't given you much appreciation. So I just wanted to say, thanks Gwen."
Gwen sat looking at Ben with, first a stunned look that quickly softened, and said, with a little hint of a tear in one eye "my pleasure Ben, You can always count on me. But don't keep saying sweet things to me or I might have to kiss you…on the cheek I mean. "
Well, I wouldn't' complain. "He said. They both felt awkward and looked away from each other, anywhere but at each other. After a moment Gwen said "Uh, about the omnitrix timing out. Until you get that figured out you could, maybe learn some martial arts skills. We've got room for another student at my dojo.
Before Ben could reply an employee came out with their pizza. A young girl with long brown hair tied in a ponytail in the back and wearing a t-shirt that didn't leave much to the imagination. She bent over placing the pizza on the table saying "milord, milady, your pizza." Ben took notice he actually wasn't looking at the food and Gwen to her own surprise found it annoying, somehow Kia Green came to mind.
"Are you going to do tricks for her?"
"What?" Ben said.
"Are you going to let her tame you? She can use peperoni bites as rewards.
" Ben grinned "jealous Gwen?"
"N...No! She said Just stop making eyes at women when you are with another girl, it's rude."
Alright, gee I didn't know this was a date"
"It's not dweeb but it's still rude, let's just eat" As they each took a slice of pizza Ben said "I think the dojo idea is a good one, and I could ask Grandpa to teach me some plumber techniques. Would it be ok to go with you tomorrow?"
"Shure, I think you'll like the instructor. And, as much as I hate to admit it you do have a knack for fighting skills. But be ready for some bumps and bruises." As they continued with their pizza Gwen broke the silence with a question.
"So Ben, with all the trouble it's caused, if you could take the omnitrix off, would you?"
He thought for a moment then answered "No, I don't think I would. I mean I'm just learning how to use it and I have been able to do a lot of good with it. Besides, taking is off wouldn't stop Vilgax or Keven from coming after me, or you. Not that it makes any different, it'll never come off."
Gwen did her best wicked witch impression and added "As long as you're alive."
Ben chuckled, "You'd better not pull out an hour glass now."
Sneering she said "or you'll do what?
Ben gave her an evil grin and said "Remember Gwen, I know all of your tickle spots."
"You wouldn't dare" He started to get up from his seat and she quickly said "Ok, ok you would dare, I give. "
"A wise choice Gwen."
After pizza and a few games they walked back to Gwen's house, Ben's family was staying there while their house was being rebuilt. They walked in silence for a while and Gwen had time to think about all she and Ben had been through together. How many times they had saved each other's lives, how they had come to depend on each other and how much it hurt when one though that they would never see the other again in spite of all of the arguments'. She thought about Xenon, when the wild vines took her away. All she could think about was him, and then when she became aware again and he saw her. The look of sheer joy on his face, the tears in his eyes and the hug she got that said so much, it said "I'm never letting you go again". She was starting to feel very close to her cousin, maybe closer that she should, and she found herself wondering if Ben had the same thoughts. She knew him like no one else, except maybe Grandpa and she thought he does kind of act like he might. She wondered who she could talk to about this without getting herself and her cousin in trouble, maybe Ken. Yes she could count of him to listen and not judge. And, hopefully, help her sort some things out. She would call him soon. She was snapped out of her thoughts when Ben said "Gwen, after what happened today I think it would be a good Idea for us to start training together. It looks like the end of summer isn't the end of our hero work." The same thing had occurred to her
"Well we will have plenty of time since we'll be living together for a while, so yeah, lets plan on that."
Ben then continued "And after our place is finished we can take turns at each other's house on the weekends. He paused and continued, "and it would give us some time just have some fun."
"That sounds good to me," she said. As they walked Ben took his pack off and took something out, it was a chocolate bar, and he broke it in half and said to Gwen "here, have some partner." Gwen took the offered confection and then the significance of the gift occurred to her. She smiled ear to ear and, as they walked along she reached for his hand.