Disclaimer: I still don't own Ben 10. Blast!

Authors note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. You were all very flattering. Sorry, too, that this one isn't as long as the last chapter. I just couldn't think come up with anything more to write in it without out ruining it. Be forewarned that this chapter isn't as good as the last one, nor is it yet a lead in to my full chapter story. This was just an attempt to become better aquianted with Ben, Gwen, and Kevin's characters before I launch into the full story. I'm still to writing them so I need a little practice. Now, I've taken up enough of your time, so please enjoy.

Gwen scuffed her shoe in what was left of the snow while she watched Ben talking to Alan and the Sheriff. Clasping her hands behind her back, Gwen was barely keeping the smile on her face from turning into a full grin. Ben had impressed, yet again. Even though she was sure that Ben had done most of the 'Heroing' tonight, he was giving most, if not all, of the credit to Alan. What had happened to that little ten year-old glory hog who never 'needed' anyone else's help, and could save the day all on his own? He grew up, that's what happened.

When they finished saying their goodbyes, Ben turned to begin walking back towards her and Kevin. As they made eye contact Ben smiled, and Gwen felt a little thrill shoot through her that made her stomach flop and her head swim. She felt accountably giddy.

"So, what's next?" Kevin asked, drawing Ben's attention away from her.

"Dunno, yet," Ben said, looking suddenly thoughtful. "That was kind of our last lead."

"We could always go look for more crop circles," Kevin offered as they all turned and began walking through the corn together, back towards Kevin's car.

"I told you," Gwen interrupted, "They're not crop circles. They're circuit boards."

"They're circles in a field of corn, how can they not be crop circles?" Kevin retorted.

"To call them crop circles implies that they're those stupid hoaxes made by a bunch of adolescent twits who can't come up with anything more constructive to do on a Saturday night," Gwen said heatedly.

"They're still circles in a field of crops," Kevin replied, and Gwen had the sudden urge to smack that smug look right off his face.

"Right," Gwen said sarcastically, "Just like I have an alien ancestry."

"You do!"

"Uh-huh, sure," Gwen smirked, turning to Ben with a can-you-believe-this-guy look on her face.

Ben smirked too, but shrugged, "Well it's not like its impossible. Remember Xylene"?

Gwen's mouth fell open. "I can't believe your taking his side"!

"I'm not taking anyone's side!" Ben exclaimed, throwing up his hands in defense. "I'm just saying it's a possibility is all." Gwen narrowed her eyes. With a 'hmph', she crossed her arms, turning resolutely away, her nose in the air.

"Aw, come on," Ben said, pulling her towards him. "Don't be like that." Shrugging him off, Gwen made sure to walk just out of his reach.

"Way to go, Pee-Wee," Kevin said, smacking Ben in the back of the head.

"Me?! You're the one who started all this with your crop circle stuff!" Ben ducked another blow from Kevin before throwing himself at him, tackling him to the ground. Gwen watched with humor as what had started as a simple discussion about where they should go next turned into an all out brawl. It took Gwen several seconds before she realized why the scene made her feel so warm, but then it occurred to her, they were like brothers.

Unlike herself, Ben was an only child. He'd never had any brothers or sisters to play with or wrestle with growing up, and from what she could recall, Kevin was orphaned or something like that because of his powers. She and Ben had used to wrestle all the time when they were little. She had always taken great pleasure in being able to pin him each and every time, but they had long since ceased anything quite so overtly physical as that.

The last time they had scuffled like that stood out in her mind as one of the most awkward situations she had ever been in. It had started out innocently enough, they had been playing video games, and Ben had been losing. He had tackled her in a vain effort to get her controller and wound up flat on his back with her straddling him. The whole situation would have been totally harmless, had she not recently begun to undergo puberty, and…how would you say…mature physically. They had both just sort of froze, realizing for the first time exactly what kind of positions these hitherto innocent wrestling matches tended to find them in. The whole thing escalated from uncomfortable to mortifying when their grandfather chose that moment to walk in on them. The time he had caught them dancing had nothing on this, and neither of them had ever quite had the courage to wrestle each other again.

Gwen laughed as little as Kevin tried desperately to keep Ben from hitting the Omnitrix. In Kevin, Ben seemed to have found a rival and the makings of a best friend. The two essential, if not dichotomous, aspects of any good brother relationship, and if Kevin could be that brother to Ben, well, maybe he wasn't so bad. His tough guy act and glove compartment full of speeding tickets were lost on her, though.

Gwen finally decided to intervene when Ben started to turn blue from a headlock Kevin had put him. "Alright, that's enough," she said, reaching out and prying Kevin's arm off of Ben. "You're going to strangle him."

They both staggered to their feet, panting and covered in dirt. "Still need a girl to fight your battles for you?" Kevin taunted with a smirk.

"I'm sorry, who was it that won our fight at the train yard. Oh, that's right, me," Ben retorted, beginning to dust himself off.

"So you managed to win one fight," Kevin replied. "I've won, like, every other fight we've been in, so I think you've still got along way to go, Junior."

"Funny, 'cause I seem to remember winning at the Golden Gate Bridge and on Slix Vigma's ship and in the Null-Void."

Kevin let out a growl, and both prepared to spring again before Gwen intervened. Stepping between them she placed a hand on both of their chests. "I said, 'that's enough'." She glared between them, daring them to just try and defy her.

"You're not worth it," Kevin finally said, turning back towards his car with a smirk. Ben scoffed and Gwen sighed.

"Boys," she said, falling in beside Ben as they trailed Kevin back to his car. "How's your knee, by the way"?

Ben gave her a quizzical look. "That you skinned yesterday as Humongosaur." Honestly, did boys forget their injuries that quickly?

Comprehension dawned on Ben's face. "Oh, that. Its fine."

"Are you sure? Maybe I should look at it," she said, glancing down at his knee.

"It's just a scratch. It'll be fine."

"It could get infected, you know"?

"It'll be fine," Ben said again, patiently.

Gwen was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "I don't like that you retain your injuries after you turn back now. That never used to happen."

Ben shrugged. "Yeah, it is kind of weird, but, oh, well, there's nothing we can do about it."

"That's not an 'oh, well', Ben. What if you get seriously injured"?

"You worry too much," Ben said as they finally reached Kevin's car.

"And you don't worry enough," Gwen retorted as she opened the door and slid into her seat.

"Took you guys long enough," Kevin said turning in his seat to look at them both. "So, what's our next move"?

Ben closed his eyes for a long moment. "Grandpa Max's RV," he said, finally opening his eyes.

"What about it?" Kevin asked, but Gwen's eyes were already widening.

"Of course," she said. "If he left that one message there for you, maybe he left others."

"It's worth a shot," Ben nodded.

"Alright then, we're off," Kevin said, throwing the car in gear, but paused at the look Gwen was giving him. "And we'll be going the speed limit," he droned.