Ben and Gwen were stunned into silence. Both going over in their minds how, or if, they should change their plans about talking to their grandpa concerning their own relationship issues.

"Wow!" Ben exclaimed. "I mean I guessed that helping me with the Omnitrix was only half of why she had come back but I didn't expect this."

"I hope you guys are happy for us." Max said, a little concerned about their reaction.

"Sure," Ben answered happily. "I know she and I got off on the wrong foot, but we're getting along great now. I think you guys will be great together."

Gwen added. "Yeah, she's good for you." Gwen agreed, "This is awesome news."

"Thanks kids," he said with a smile. "It means a lot to us." Max paused. "So you wanted me to go first. I take it that means you have something to talk about to."

"Uh, well, yeah," Ben said, "But you had two things. What's the other one?"

"Oh no, Ben. It's your turn next."

The two teenagers looked at each other nervously, not sure where to start. Gwen began. "We...We've had some problems...I mean we need your advice about something."

"Sure, what's a grandpa for?" Max said in a jovial tone.

"Well it has to do with...personal relationships." Gwen answered.

"I'll do what I can to help." He said prompting her to continue.

"Well, what if I told you...You see we have this friend..." Ben interrupted. "Gwen,...a friend? No one ever believes that, even when you really are just talking about a friend."

She hung her head. Ben was right. She had basically told grandpa that it was about them; Or at least about one of them. This was a lot harder than she'd imagined.

"Okay this is obviously some serious stuff. I'll take your word. Is it really about a friend or about you?"

"Us." Gwen said.

"Alright, both of you then. Just come out with it. I won't blow up at you no matter what it is...Now tell me."

She had already fumbled this enough, Gwen looked to Ben; Silently giving him the go ahead.

"Well grandpa," Ben started but hesitated. He knew though if he danced around the point he'd get just as clumsy as Gwen had started getting, probably worse. 'Just have to say it plan and simple' he decided.

"Gwen and I are dating."

Max nodded and, in an even tone, asked. "I take it you don't mean you're dating other people."

Ben shook his head. "No grandpa, we mean each other."

"How long?" He asked.

"It was about two years ago when I realized how I felt. I took the risk of letting Ben know, and found out that he was feeling the same thing." She said taking Ben's hand and looking worriedly at her grandpa.

"So now keeping the secret is getting hard?"

"Yeah," Ben said. "We're about to turn fifteen and we don't date: At least not as far as anyone knows; But we do spend a lot of time together."

"So," Gwen picked up, "We decided to tell you and ask for advice."

"And, I'd guess you're hoping my advice won't be 'find a way to get over it'."

A worried look came to both of their faces. What would they do if he was against them? Had they made a mistake in telling him about this?

He answered. "Don't worry kids, I'm not going to say that." He saw the looks of relief on both of his grandchildren.

"I kind of wondered if things weren't going this way with you guys; Even back that first summer." He sighed. "I'm really not sure how I feel about this. You know that, at least in this country, this kind of relationship between cousins isn't going to go over well." Max paused a moment before adding, "On the other hand, I married a sorceress, and now I'm about to marry an alien reptile...Not to mention Joel marrying an alien shape shiftier, so I'm not too sure if I'd be a hypocrite to criticize."

He sat down, looking earnestly at the two young heroes. "I guess I'm kind of on the fence about this; but I'll try to keep an open mind." But then he cautioned them. "You guys know this won't be easy. A lot of people will look down on you, or look at you with disgust...And some of that may come from home.

"Thanks grandpa." They said in unison.

"Okay kids. I'll reserve judgment," He added with a smile. "since you guys were so open minded about me and Xylene." He became more serious. "But as for what you're going to do about it. I don't think it changes your options.

You've decided that giving up the relationship isn't an option.

Then there's what I guess you've been doing all along. Just keep turning down dates and let people think what they want.

You could lie and tell everyone you have steady relationships but that will only last so long when no one ever meets them. Besides I don't like the idea of lying about it. Do you?"

They both shook there heads.

"Or you can find a boy and girl you trust to play the part. But I think you're both going to run into a jealousy problem about that...Not to mention worry that the decoy romance could become real.

Or the last option, Just come out with it. What sounds best to you guys?"

Ben and Gwen looked at each other. Max hadn't said anything that they hadn't already thought of, but somehow hearing it from him just ...ordered it. Made it easier to look at it intelligently.

"We can't come out in the open with it while our parents can force us to stay apart." Gwen said.

Ben added "For now we just stay officially unattached and let everyone think what they want."

Gwen continued. "Yes, then, after we hit eighteen we can come out in the open with it and, well we face the consequences together."

"Okay then." Max said, still unsure about the relationship his grandkids were in but determined to keep his promise to give it a chance. "Now as to my other matter..."

"Yeah grandpa." Ben said.

"Well it's about an expansion to the Earth defense corps." Max told them.

Ben nodded. He liked the new name the plumbers were using now that they didn't have to keep their existence a secret. "Okay what about it?"

"Well," Max said. "We're up to full strength but we want to start a new unit. It would be composed of allied aliens and humans with special powers." He put his hand on his grandson's shoulder. "I want you to lead it."