A/N:Okay... My earnest apologies for being soooooooooooo late in updating this chapter. Firstly, I had my midterms looming large in front of me, and I had to study damned hard for them. And secondly, my computer crashed (once again!!!!!!).

So...I'm really sorry for being SOOOOOOOO late. Plz forgive me. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 10

…Gwen slowly came up to Ben, eyeing Kevin suspiciously. Seeing her come up to him, Ben pulled her closer and put his arms around her waist. "That scared you?" he asked, a bit mischievously.

"Ben!" said Gwen indignantly, staring at her cousin crossly. "Haven't we spent years together kicking major alien butt – including this freak out here?" She paused to stare at Kevin, lying with his eyes closed, blood gushing out of his hands; the rain mingling with the blood and reddening the sand. She wrinkled her nose up and turned back to Ben. "Yeah," she continued, "We've kicked major alien butt for all these years, and you expect me to be scared of this little brawl? Ben Tennyson, I swear—"

"Okay, okay, chill!" said Ben, breaking into a grin. How very likely of Gwen to rise to that little bait of his!

"You sure you're okay?" asked Gwen, a note of concern coming into her voice. "Kevin gave you a nice little punch, didn't he?"

Ben nodded ruefully. "I could have averted that – I just needed to be a bit more careful…"

"That hurt, didn't it?" asked Gwen.

Ben shook his head vigorously, trying to seem okay. "It's quite okay, Gwen," he said, not wanting her to get all anxious over him.

Gwen put her hand on Ben's cheek and stroked him lovingly. "You're lying, Ben. That's clear to me."

Ben sighed. Damn girls and their accurate instincts! Hadn't he looked convincing? Then how had she known?

Gwen smiled softly. She put her arms around Ben. "You needn't hide things, you know," she said gently. "It's just me… Can't you be frank enough to let out everything in front of me?"

Gwen pulled away from Ben's arms and looked into his eyes. "Tell me…can't you?"

Ben placed his hands on Gwen's shoulders. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "There's nothing that I want to hide from you Gwen… It's just that – I – I didn't want to frighten you, Gwen. You're far too precious to me…"

A smile worked up at the corners of Gwen's lips. "You don't ever allow me to be angry with you, do you?"

Ben too grinned. He pulled Gwen into his arms and kissed her. This time, the kiss was not filled with over-eager passion and fervor. Just a simple filling of love… and tender, gentle affection…

As they broke the kiss, Ben clasped Gwen's hand in his. "Shall we go?" he said playfully.

Amused, Gwen nodded. As the two began walking away from the beach, hand-in-hand, they heard a slight movement. Instantly, the two whirled back, only to see Kevin sitting up amongst his own pool of blood, looking pathetic.

"What the –" began Ben, but was silenced by Gwen.

"Shh," she said. "Let's at least see what he has to say!"

"Gwen!" began Ben, enormously astounded.

Gwen shot him a don't-worry look. "I'll handle this," she said to Ben, and turned towards Kevin.

"Yeah," she said. "What do you have to say?"

Kevin struggled to get up.

"No no, stay there!" said Gwen frantically. "I—I'm coming to you."

'Gwen!" began Ben once again, but was again silenced be Gwen.

"Why do have to interfere?" she said huffily, "I told you I'd handle this, didn't I?"

Ben stared at Gwen, confused. What was she doing? All he had understood was that she was playing games – but with whom?

"Yes, Kevin," said Gwen, turning his attention back to the miserable-looking heap sitting in a pool of blood. She ardently wished this were over. God! I wanna puke!

"Gwen…I…you…" Kevin began, wondering how he should frame his sentence in order to evoke sympathy and compassion in Gwen. As far as he could make out, the scales were tilted on his side – and he meant to make the best use of that advantage.

"Yes, Kevin – what do you have to say?" asked Gwen, coming closer to him.

"Gwen…I…I'm in a terrible state…" he began.

"Yes," said Gwen softly. "And then…continue." I can see your state, you duffer. And you deserve this…creep.

"Could you…could you please help me?" asked Kevin, tears welling up in his eyes. "I need your help, Gwen. I love you…"

Gwen stared at Kevin, wondering how to reply. What a pack of lies! Love? Yeah yeah, your love is soaring in the air, fucker!

"Tell me, Gwen… Don't you love me?" asked Kevin, hoping Gwen would say yes. "Don't you want to stay by my side? Don't you want to leave that cousin of yours and come with me?"

"Kevin!" bellowed Ben, rushing forward. How dare he play such tricks? And WHY was Gwen yielding to his incentives?

"Just stay out of this, will you?" roared Gwen, staring at Ben fiercely. "I told you to lemme handle this – and still you have to interfere, huh?"

Ben stopped in his tracks, stunned. Was that really Gwen who had said that to him? What on earth was happening?

"You have to choose, Gwen," said Kevin, thrusting forth his final maneuver. "Me – or Ben?"

For a second, Gwen's eyes flew wide open, and an expression of intense surprise registered on her face. And then she was back to normal. She hoped Kevin had not seen that expression of trepidation on her face. But he didn't seem to be in that good a condition to notice such minor things. Thought after thought, idea after idea shot through her mind in those nanoseconds, as she fiercely tried to come to a solution, which would both benefit her, and bring her out of this problem as well. Why on earth had Kevin thought that she would help him? Puhleeez!!!! Me...and help Kevin???? Yeah, yeah, just wind the clock back, and make that possible...

"C'mon!" persisted Kevin. "Whom would you choose between Ben and me??"

"You...and Ben?" repeated Gwen, fiercely thinking things out; giving herself more time to think by repeating the words.

"Y – yes—yesh," said Kevin, slurring his words in his excitement. Was he finally achieving his goal? Would he finally be able to defeat Ben? He thought of all those pretty girls back at the pool and the bar. Oh! How he had flirted with them! And if he would still be able to win Gwen over, there'd simply be no stopping him!!

Ultimately, Gwen let out a deep breath. She'd finished deciding who she'd choose. The answer was obvious. She'd just had to decide how to reveal her decision. And she'd got a perfect way out.

"I've finished deciding," she said calmly, her heart pounding frantically within her.

"So who have you chosen?" asked Ben, unable to resist himself anymore. He could not for the life of him make out what Gwen was about to do. Surely she wouldn't deceive him??

"Ben, come up over here," called Gwen. Ben walked up slowly to her, gazing curiously at her face. Gwen had to keep herself hard from laughing out. The reaction on Ben's face was priceless!!!! Pursing her lips, she turned towards Kevin, and motioned him to get up.

"I—I'll get up?" asked Kevin.

"Come and stand away from all that blood," said Gwen, wishing the thunder and lightning would stop. It made things much much more difficult for her!

Once the two guys were standing side by side on the sand, their clothes drenched – Ben's with water, and Kevin's with a mixture of blood and water – and shooting each other death glares, Gwen came up to them.

"I've made my decision," she said, glancing from Ben to Kevin, and back to Ben. "But let me do it a little dramatically."

Inspite of himself, Ben rolled his eyes. Gwen sooo loved being the glory hog; even in a situation like this!

"This is what I've decided," she said, pushing her wet hair out of her face. "You two shall just stand about in anticipation...and I shall come around ad kiss the person whom I love – the person whom I've dedicated the rest of my life to – and the person whom I choose among you two.

Both Kevin and Ben gave a gasp. Kevin, because he was so sure that Gwen would choose him, that this way of an announcement seemed too bizarre to him. And Ben – because he couldn't believe that Gwen would kiss Kevin. Exactly as Gwen had hoped for, Ben too come to the decision that Gwen would obviously choose Kevin – though if that happened, he would kill Kevin then and there.

"You – you're going to kiss one of us?" asked Ben apprehensively.

Gwen nodded. Inwardly, she laughed to see Ben's insecurity. How could he even imagine that she would kiss that toad of a Kevin?

"Get ready," said Gwen, pushing her hair out of her face for a second time. Really! Now the storm was getting on her nerves!!

As the two boys stood there in intense anticipation, waiting uncertainly, Gwen slowly came forward........

A/N: Hope this was okay. I'm real stressed out after all those exams!! Anyway, there's just one more chapter coming up. The last one, I promise you! Keep reviewing till then!!