The previous had been disastrous. Ben couldn't have felt more broken, and just at the worst of times too. He had laid out his heart to be judged. It had been deemed unworthy of being wrapped in the silky arms of Gwendolyn.

As promised, Ben had gone down to the lower levels to play a game of baseball with his two sons. Even though he shouted words of encouragement to the two boys, he had remained distant – silent in most moments of conversation.

Now, with the sun rising just over the horizon adjacent to the four father's chiseled faces, Ben lie in his bed – having tossed and turned mercilessly. His dream, or nightmare rather, had been full of him going alone in space to trek for Gwen, but ultimately not making it in time.

In this mental vision, he had arrived on the rocky planet and got no vitals of any life – it worried him sick. Moving about the unforgiving land, Ben spotted a desolate structure – that of a cave with many tunnels. However, what he had come for was lying at the entrance.

There, on the brown, dust ground, was Gwendolyn Tennyson. Her eyes had been wide open with fear and a large circular gash running through the middle of her body.

But not that he was awake, Ben knew that it had simply been his head deceiving him – like it had done so many times recently.

The sheets of his bed were that of a dark burgundy, and he kept them close to his chin. He wanted to lie in the soft bed and relive the moment of her winding up in his room – and that moment happening – again and again. His whole body felt empty – his mind was no longer rushing or creating illusions. His head was no longer inflated with arrogance. It was all gone. Taken. Stolen. By Gwendolyn Tennyson.

"Ben!" came a strong voice followed by a few knocks on the door. "Aren't you going to say goodbye to your cousin?"

It was Max – who apparently found it reasonable to shout on a good morning. Although, Ben quickly scanned the words in his mind that had just found their way in.

Goodbye? He cried to himself, and jumped up – literally diving for his mechanical door that separated his bedroom from the tower hallway.

With nothing but a pair of poly-cotton sleeping pants on, Ben switched the door's state to slide open, thus revealing a welcoming elderly face.

"Well, I see you're up now, but by the looks of it, you were just sleeping."

Completely ignoring his remark, Ben inquired "What do you mean leaving? Where is she going? We just got back, she can't leave!"

Max held up a hand to slow his grandson's questioning down. "Whoa. Hold on there Ben. I know it was a quick decision, but it's her choice. Come on. She's just about to go."

Pushing his grandfather to the side, Ben threw himself into the hallway and ran down the corridor heading for the landing pad on the side of his headquarters. Just last night she had kissed him, and now she was leaving on another one of her long-term galactic travels. He wanted to stop her, and keep her there with him. But he couldn't. Be didn't feel right telling her not to go – or even asking her to stay. No matter how much it hurt him – he knew exactly what he had to do.

Passing through two double sliding doors Ben found himself outside on a steel-frame pad that hovered over a busy city. Right in front of him was another ship of Gwendolyn's – which she had about three others thanks to Max.

Beside the new star cruiser were three people. A tall, and beautiful, woman with orange hair as bright as the best citrus orange. Just below her – giving her a goodbye hug – were two children. Kenny and Devlin.

Kenny turned around to see his father standing at the landing pad entrance. "Hey dad, did you come to say goodbye to Aunt Gwendolyn too?"

Ben did not even glance at his son, he kept his eyes on the figure that he had been hugging. Gwen turned to meet his gaze. She had a sorrowful expression plastered on her face – she was afraid he would find a way to keep her on Earth and not leave. She knew that he would be able to, as she wanted desperately to stay as well.

"Yes...I did." Ben finally said.

Gwendolyn's heart jumped. She had thought – and even hoped – that he would ask her, beg her, to stay with him and never leave again. She wanted to know that it was him that caused her to stay. But no, he simply was going to give her a goodbye, as if he didn't care if she was with him anymore.

Ben walked up to her. He never blinked, nor did he stop staring at her. Taking one of her hands into his own, he leaned in close.

"If this is what you want to do, then I just want you to know that I'll miss you."

Gwendolyn took a deep breath, her chest heaving. She hadn't expected him to be so selfless. He cared enough to be supportive, and not make her think twice about her own decisions. Ben offered his heart to her, his care, something she had wanted ever since they were ten. His acceptance.

"I don't know..." she finally spoke to him. "I'm not sure if I really want to do this." Her gaze then moved sideways – breaking their eye contact. "But I think it's what I should do. Ben, I need to clear my head."

The brunette man wanted to try and convince her to stay, ever so much. However, he knew that it would be wrong. Nodding in a solemn, and sad, way, he agreed.

"Just remember...I will always be at your side if anything happens to you. I won't fail you again."

A tear rolled down Gwen's cheek, which was caught by Ben's crisp finger. Was she really going to leave and go away from someone who cared so much about her? Who cared to stand beside her at all times?

"I won't be long." she said hopefully. "I promise, I will come back."

Gwen then lent closer to Ben's face and kissed him softly on his cheek. He then closed his eyes, savoring the moment that was being ripped from his body – he hadn't even got a chance to get used to it yet.

They then let go of each other and Ben backed up – watching as Gwendolyn turned and entered the quaint ship.

"Dad? Aunt Gwendolyn was holding your hand and gave you a kiss. Does that mean she loves you?" Kenny asked, curious about what he had just witnessed.

Ben smiled, his eyes sorrowful, "No, that doesn't mean she loves me. But she has proved to me in so many different ways in which she does."

Gwen sat in the cockpit of the cruiser and felt the odd gravity change as the weight from her and the ship was lifted into the air. Wherever she went, and wherever she was, he was her protector. Her savior. Her guardian angel.