Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10! I SO wish I did, though.
Previously:
"So, your middle name's Ethan?"
Next thing Ben knew he was looking up at the ceiling of Kevin's garage with a black eye.
"Ben!" the older Gwen and Kevin yelled, rushing over to help him.
"You OK?" asked Kevin as he helped him up.
"Yeah, except for the black eye," Ben snapped, glaring at him.
"Psychopath!" Gwen screamed at the 12-year-old, who stood there watching his older self help his worst enemy. Gwen lifted her hand, ready to cast a spell at him, but the older version of her grabbed her wrist.
"Don't," she said in a warning voice, frowning down at her.
"Why not?" Ben snapped at her, sitting up and waving the older boy's helping hands away, "He is a crazy killer. Why do you guys trust him?"
"Ben's right, and you know it. Whatever happens to him in the future to make him all nice or whatever obviously hasn't happened yet," Gwen added.
"Would you quit talking about me like I'm not here?" Kevin snapped, glaring at all of them, his hands curling into fists.
The teens exchanged a look and the older Kevin said, "I think you guys better ride with Ben." His eyes never left the 16-year-old's and she nodded.
"I'll be back soon. Come on, Ben," she said, taking his hand, "Let's get out of here before you get another black eye."
Both Kevins smirked at the last statement, as an energy shield engulfed the other three and they disappeared.
"You know you just boosted his ego to a 110%?" Gwen snapped at her older self as soon as they were safely in Ben's garage.
"It's not Kevin's ego I'm worried about," she answered, leaning back on the hood of Ben's car, "He's been through enough to act like a total jerk only half the time. Ben on the other hand? Compared to him Kevin's a complete gentleman."
"Thanks a lot, Gwen," came a raspy voice from the doorway as Big Chill landed in the doorway, and quickly turned back into the older Ben, "What are you guys doing here, anyway? Thought you'd be riding with Kevin. Hey, what happened to my eye?" He pointed at the kid's swelling, black eye.
"Kevin punched him," said the younger Gwen, venom dripping from her words.
The older Ben frowned.
"Well that's not very nice," he said, tapping his chin with his index finger, "After all, I did save the entire Universe."
"Ben, you say that one more time, and I'm gonna give you a black eye. Do you understand?" the older girl snapped, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm just saying that Kevin shouldn't have done that."
Everyone stared at him open-mouthed. It wasn't like Ben to be this calm, and his cousin could easily see through his act. She was, after all, dating a juvenile ex-con and recognized the overly smooth and innocent voice Ben was using. Plus the fact that his left eye was twitching.
She stepped back and started to cast the spell that would take her back to Kevin's garage.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"Going back to warn Kevin," she answered, casting the spell and disappearing again.
As soon as she was gone the older Ben started laughing.
"What's with you?" asked Gwen warily.
"I know how we're gonna get back at Kevin," he answered between laughs.
"How?" Ben asked, excitement shining in his large emerald eyes.
"By NOT getting back at him!" The two cousins exchanged a look.
"I'm starting to doubt who the crazy one is," said Gwen, a wary look in her eyes.
"No, no, I might be onto something," said her annoying cousin, "Think about it! You're off warning him about how I'm gonna think of some awesome revenge plot, and he's gonna be jumpy this whole trip! And then, he's finally gonna beg me to get my revenge, just so he can finally relax, and then I tell him I already did! Genius!"
"You're insane! This is the kid that robbed like 10 places and blamed you for it! He conned you into being his partner, and almost killed a train full of innocent people. Don't you think he's gonna see this coming?" Gwen snapped, hands on her hips.
"I doubt it," said the older Ben, finally getting control of himself and opening up the backseat for the two kids. "He's not the same as he was five years ago. He's not a bad guy anymore. You pretty much took care of that when you told him to quit making those illegal deals with other criminals from outer space."
"And he actually listened?" asked Gwen, as she and her cousin got in.
"Well, yeah," he answered, getting in the driver's seat and putting on his seatbelt, "I told you, he's changed. Hold on tight. This car's at least 50 times as fast as the Rustbucket."
And with that they took off, speeding through town.
Gwen arrived back in Kevin's garage to find both of him standing there, talking about who- knows-what.
"Hey, so Tennyson gone yet?" asked the younger version of Kevin. For some reason he seemed to trust her. Or maybe he was just worried she was gonna tie him to a tree again.
"Yes," she answered, a little frustrated, "And if I were you I'd be really careful the next time I see Ben. He's planning some sort of revenge scheme for you for giving him that black eye."
The two of them exchanged incredulous looks and burst out laughing. Gwen rolled her eyes, crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg, waiting until their laughter died down. Their childish behavior was extremely annoying.
"Gwen," the older version of him said, when he calmed down enough to talk, "I can take whatever your cousin throws at me. Don't worry about me." He reached out to gently stroke her cheek but she batted his hand away.
"If I didn't worry about you, you wouldn't be here," she snapped, her eyes almost swimming in tears at the memory of what had almost happened. Kevin's jaw tightened. He was remembering that night, too. But he wasn't remembering his jerk of a best friend almost killing him. He was remembering what he'd almost done to the one person who cared about him, the person who he cared about, more than anything.
Two feet away the 12-year-old was watching their brief exchange with wide eyes. He was curious as to what they were talking about, but had a feeling that he didn't really want to find out.
"I know," the 17-year-old Kevin breathed, stepping forward and resting his hands on her shoulders. She studied his face for a moment, and sighed seeing the sadness there.
"Ahem," said the boy. The two teens were brought out of their thoughts and stepped back, like they'd just been caught doing something they shouldn't. They seemed surprised to find the boy standing there.
"Anyway," Gwen quickly said, "Just be careful. He was using that tone of voice that you always use when you're either trying to act all innocent or playing some angle."
"Why Gwen?" he said, using that same voice that she had been talking about, "What on Earth are you talking about?"
Gwen glared at him while the younger Kevin snickered.
"Seriously, stop worrying. The guy's so easy to read I'll see it coming before he's even thought it out," her Kevin said, "Now, let's get out of here before I actually have to endure the humiliation of losing to Tennyson," he added.
Gwen rolled her eyes and muttered, "So juvenile," under her breath. She slid into the passenger's seat, the 12-year-old sat in the back, and Kevin in the driver's seat.
About 35 minutes later they arrived at the campground. This wasn't surprising, considering that Kevin drove like a maniac. Also, there was no Ben there, but he arrived almost as soon as they got out.
"Ha!" Kevin cried when he saw the brunette. "I win. What took you so long, anyway?" he demanded, crossing his arms on his chest and leaning back on his beloved car.
"Actually, you're here three minutes earlier than Paradox said you would be," came an old man's voice a couple of feet. The six of them turned to see the Rustbucket standing on the other side of the fire pit. In the doorway of the RV stood Grandpa Max, beaming at all of them.
"Grandpa Max!" exclaimed the younger Gwen and Ben, and rushed forward to hug their grandfather.
"Hey, kids! It's good to see you," he said, letting them go, "You too, Kevin," he added, smiling at the 12-year-old.
"Can't say the same for you, old man," he snapped, letting the hatred show on his thin face. Everyone stared at him in shock. Max frowned.
"Considering what a good man you turn out to be, and the situation we're in, I'm gonna let that go," he finally said. The boy shrugged.
At that moment, Verdona stepped out from behind him in the RV and smiled.
"Come, now, Max," she cooed, gently turning his face to look at her, "You can't blame him for having just a bit of fun. After all, a little goes a long way."
She laughed, as if though she'd said something hilarious. The six kids were starting to question her sanity.
"What is she talking about?" the younger Gwen asked warily.
Max sighed and turned his head away from the annodyte, with noticeable reluctance, to gaze apologetically at the three teens.
"I'm sorry, kids. This wasn't my idea," he said, and stepped away from the doorway to reveal-
"Cooper!" the older Gwen exclaimed, running forward to embrace her friend. There was the slightest tightening in the 17-year-old Kevin's eyes, and the other four just stood there confused.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, letting go of him to look in his light blue eyes.
"Your grandmother thought it would be a good idea for me to come along, you know, since I can manipulate alien technology and all that," said Cooper lightly blushing, "Plus I just wanted to see you."
"Aww. How sweet," the younger Kevin smirked.
"Gwen's got a boyfriend! Gwen's got a boyfriend!" Ben laughed.
The kid Gwen glared at her cousin and old enemy, her cheeks a bright shade of red. From behind her an energy beam shot out, pinning her cousin to a tree.
"Hey! What gives!" he shouted, trying to free himself just as Kevin had done earlier.
"Doesn't feel so good, does it, Benji?" the boy snickered, clearly enjoying the discomfort of both cousins. Everyone ignored him.
"Stop teasing her," the older Gwen pretty much ordered him.
"Okay, okay! Just put me down!"
She smiled and the energy beam disappeared, making Ben fall flat on his face. Then she turned to the two teenage guys standing by the cars.
"So that's what I should've done back when the Hybreed were attacking," she stated, smiling an evil smile.
"Why do I feel like I'm gonna be spending half the trip being tied to a tree?" asked the older Ben to nobody in particular, "And why haven't you beaten up Cooper yet?" The last part he quietly whispered to Kevin.
"The kid saved my life," he answered just as quietly.
"So?"
"So, even you can't be dumb enough to think that I'd beat up someone who's helped me out, even if he is crushing on my girl."
"OK," said Ben, not bothering to pursue the topic any further, for fear of being overheard. The others were watching them questioningly.
"And what on Earth could be so important that you have to discuss right now that can't wait until after you've said hello to Cooper?" asked Verdona, a mischievous smile on her face that said she knew exactly what they were talking about.
"Nothing," Kevin answered, stepping closer to the blonde boy and shaking his hand, "Good to see you again, kid."
"Um, yeah," said Ben, following Kevin's example. Cooper gave them both small friendly smiles. The one he gave Kevin seemed slightly less friendly, though.
"Grandma, why is Cooper here?" asked the older Gwen, "And don't tell me it's for my own safety or whatever. Kevin worries enough about that." She crossed her arms on her chest. The younger Gwen and Kevin exchanged curious looks, but before they could ask, Verdona laughed and answered her granddaughter's question.
"He's here, because I thought it would be more fun for you." She smiled at the confusion in her eyes.
"What do you-Oh!" Gwen cried. It suddenly all clicked into place for her. For the past two weeks, if they ever went out anywhere, Kevin had been beating up every guy who even looked at her. And while that was sweet in its own way, Gwen was getting pretty tired of having to pry him away and drag him to his car before the cops arrived to see what was going on. Kevin was insanely jealous, and she knew that Verdona knew this. Cooper had a huge crush on her, and Verdona expected her to use this to her advantage. Meaning, whenever Kevin started acting like a complete jerk. But Gwen was nothing if not fair, and this certainly wasn't fair to Cooper.
Verdona misunderstood, though. She chuckled and whispered, "You're welcome."
"So, that's what you're sorry for, Grandpa?" the younger Ben laughed, "Bringing an old friend of ours who apparently has a huge crush on Gwen?"
"No," said Max, frowning, "Well, not exactly," he added hastily, looking at the stone cold expressions that the two older teens were exchanging, "But I'm more sorry for this."
He opened the door again, and there stood a fuming 16-year-old girl with chin-length black hair, and Japanese features. She was dressed in a white tennis skirt and pink hoodie.
"Julie!" the older Ben exclaimed, as she stormed down the three steps and came straight for him, jabbing her slim finger in his chest.
"YOU have a LOT of nerve Ben Tennyson!" she spat through her teeth, backing him further and further away from his friends until he tripped over his on feet and fell on the ground, causing both of the Kevins to start laughing.
"What did I do?" Ben asked, fear in his emerald eyes. A Hybreed invasion he could handle, an energy-obsessed Kevin he showed no fear with when fighting. But an angry girlfriend was enough for even the teenage superhero to start cowering in fear.
Julie didn't answer him, though. She just inclined her head over her shoulder back at the RV. There standing in the doorway was a beautiful girl with long blonde hair, green eyes, wearing a pink sleeveless top and white shorts. Ben's eyes widened.
"Eunice?"
"Hello, Ben," the girl said, coming over to tower over and glare at the boy.
"What does she have to do with anything?" asked Ben, frowning at Julie as he got up.
Julie's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ooh, so not good," the older Kevin smirked.
"You're a dead man," the younger one added. Even though he didn't know what was going on exactly, it wasn't hard to guess. He wasn't clueless.
"You almost kissed her!" Julie exclaimed.
"And you never told me you had a girlfriend!" Eunice joined in.
"You might wanna stay out of this," said Gwen, hurrying over and gently pulling the girl back.
"Have fun, kids!" Verdona laughed, snapped her fingers and she and Max disappeared.
"Yeah, Jules!" Ben cried, "Almost! Besides, I thought we were broken up!"
"Don't give me that excuse!" Julie shouted back at him, "If that bounty hunter hadn't intervened, you would be dating her right now!"
"Come on, Julie," Ben begged, "You're overreacting. I mean, Kevin made out with Charmcaster and even Gwen wasn't this pissed off!"
"Hey, that's low, dude!" the older Kevin cried, "And besides, she kissed me. How many times do I have to tell you that!"
"But you kissed her back," the older Gwen reminded him.
"You made out with Charmcaster?" asked the younger Gwen, turning on the 12-year-old, a murderous look in her eyes.
"Who the hell's Charmcaster?" he asked to no one in particular.
"I'm not overreacting! And she was mad! She just never got a chance to show it because he apologized! Which is what you should be doing right now!" Julie yelled in his face.
"Oh yeah, Jules, I'm so sorry I didn't kiss that other girl!"
"It was, like, 80% her, 20% me!" Kevin tried to justify.
"Yes, but you still kissed her back!" Gwen snapped back.
"She's our old enemy who tried to kill Gwen and get her powers," the younger Ben explained.
"Oh, well in that case, sure I did," the 12-year-old Kevin said, smirking at the younger girl.
"I knew you couldn't be trusted! What I wanna know is why you're still here helping us?"
"Whatever, princess," the older boy said, clearly enjoying this. Fights were what he lived for. If he was gonna join up with the Tennysons later on in life then they should at least have some idea of what they'd be dealing with, "Why do you even care?"
"Ugh, I can't believe you!" Julie exclaimed, "You are the biggest jerk on the planet!"
"No, you're thinking of Kevin," said Ben, using any excuse to insult his best friend. Julie slapped him in the face and stormed off in the other direction.
"Yeah, you're right," said the older Kevin, backing down. Everyone stared at him. Even the kids stopped their fighting. Kevin Levin never admitted someone else was right about anything.
"What did you just say?" asked the older Gwen looking at him in astonishment like everyone else.
"I said you're right. I still kissed her back. And I shouldn't have gone out with her in the first place. You know why I did, though, and I'm sorry," he looked into her surprised eyes and smiled a small smile.
"Yeah, I know," said Gwen relaxing and smiling back at her boyfriend, "But if you ever do something like that again, I will crash your car, as well as Ben's."
He swallowed audibly before answering, "Deal."
Gwen smiled even wider. Everyone was gaping at them. The younger Gwen smirked at the older boy and said, "Apology accepted."
He was too astonished to do anything else other than stare at her open mouthed.
Meanwhile, Cooper and Eunice were standing by, both trying to follow the three conversations. When it seemed like no one was gonna do anything else other than stare at each other, Cooper awkwardly asked,
"So, who wants smores?"
A/N: Writing this was so much fun! As usual R&R! The more reviews I get the faster I'll update!