Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10.

Title: Embracing you

Summery: The aliens have gone into heat and they want to mate with Gwen. Ben's suffering, and Gwen wants to help anyway she can... even if she doesn't know why he's sick.

A/n: Alright. Here's Chapter 10... I'm so failing on this story. I need major help. I really have no were to go after this. My plot is really jumbled, but I'm sorting it out. I'm sorry this took soooooooo long, but all the reviews about this story being stupid and "wrong" are getting to me. I understand that Ben and Gwen will never get together in the show because it's stupid like that, but I'm not just supportive of this couple. I think Gwen and Kevin is cute too. I think both could work out just fine. I may even post a Gwevin soon, but it may take a while. So one last time, please don't read my story if you don't like this couple. Thank you all for helping and supporting. *bow*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ben and Gwen began to walk back towards the Pendragon home. The night was old by now, and both were past the hands of sleep. Ben could feel a sinking feeling in his chest as the house came into view and Kieli could be seen on the front porch. She looked sad, but when Ben got closer he noticed a head of black resting in her lap. She was stroking the black and talking softly to it. As Ben got closer he noticed that it wasn't just black, it was Hex. She wore a white night dress that ended at her thighs, and covered her with tank top straps.

When Ben and Gwen came into view she smiled and Hex turned to look at them. Both stood up and went back into the house. It was only moments later, when they stood at the foot of the stairs, that Verdona and Max ran out to greet them. Verdona wrapped Gwen in a tight hug and Max held Ben at arms length to observe him. Ben could feel Max's knowing and nodded faintly. Max coughed lightly and gave Ben a look that clearly stated his disappointment.

Verdona rocked Gwen lightly, "Thank Anodite, your safe. Charmcaster put a spell on the tent, we couldn't find you and the storm kept everyone locked inside their homes! By the time night fell we were so worried that you were dead!" Gwen smiled and gently hugged Verdona back. It was obvious the woman cared, but it was also obvious that she still wanted Gwen to go back to Anodite with her.

"Grandma… I'm not going to Anodite… I can't leave Ben, not after all that he's been through!" Verdona scrunched up her nose.

"Gwendolyn, you'd be much happier on Anodite. Here on Earth, in that body, your powers are only a tenth what they could be! With training and sixty or seventy years to work on it, you could come back to Earth and protect it like others have done." Gwen's smile faded a bit.

"I can't leave Ben."

"He'll be here when you return! I've shown you the future. Ben would have to live a millennia to die, and that's after the Omnitrix releases all that power!" Gwen closed her eyes.

Anodite sounded so good, a place where she could increase her power and become who she'd wanted to be from the start. Yet it made her cringe, seventy years was a long time, and time changes everything. Nothing could make her think that Ben wouldn't learn to live without her and start to love another. If she left now… she would return to a Ben who would be 86, but he'd only look 26... With that in mind, it didn't seem bad, but then again… time was a cruel mistress. Gwen opened her green eyes and looked into those wise periwinkle orbs of her grandmother's.

"Grandma… that's too long." Verdona opened her mouth, but Gwen spoke again, "You've showed me a small piece of the future of Earth, but not mine. I can't just leave everything I have here! I'd miss it all to much. Ben isn't my only reason to stay. I'd miss Mommy and Daddy, I'd feel bad about missing my brother's graduation, I can't miss what could be Grandpa's last birthday… life doesn't go on pause just because I have to go away to train. Life doesn't stop for any man."

Verdona glared at Gwen, "I'm giving you one last chance. Anodite and your powers, or Earth and nothing." Gwen, not realizing the danger, glared back.

"Earth. A million times, Earth." Verdona screamed out in anger and her human form vanished. Ben moved to fight, but Max grabbed his shoulder.

"This is Gwen's fight. You've made it clear to Verdona that your stronger then her, but Verdona still believes she can control Gwen." Ben looked sadly at his grandpa before looking back to see Gwen's human form fade and the beautiful pink Anodite form solidify. Gwen was pink where Verdona was lavender and lavender when Verdona was violet. The real beauty was the lilac color that made up Gwen's eyes. The girl looked absolutely invincible as she stood on the earth with her Anodite hair, more like human hair as it moved, floating out and around her like pure energy. Ben grinned as he watched his mate soar into the air. Her power even making him sweat.

Verdona blinked in surprise. Sure, she'd given Gwen the ability to become and Anodite, but that was only temporary. The girl should have lost the ability right after changing back! Gwen, testing the waters, shot a few disks at her grandmother. Verdona dodged most of them but two hit her. Those two hit her hard and sent her to the ground. Gwen stayed in the air, but watched Verdona carefully. Both were just testing the water, and Gwen had found the ice. She was faster and stronger, her mind was clear as she thought only about staying with Ben.

Verdona was slower, her power wasn't as strong as Gwen's and she fought with an angry mind. It was like fighting Ben, only evil. There was something cold about all of this. Sure, Gwen had fought with Ben about so many things, but there had always been that family love behind it. Now that she fought her grandmother it was as if the blood was frozen in her vanes. Gwen wasn't leaving, force or not, she wasn't ready to leave Ben, they had time.

Verdona soared back up and glared strait at Gwen, "If he's anything like Max, he'll leave you be a Plumber, or hide it from you."

"He can be what he wants. I would love to join the Plumbers. Fighting next to Ben never scared me before and it won't scare me now." Verdona let out a cry of annoyance and let lose a beam of her purple energy at Gwen. The younger Anodite let loose a giggle and formed a shield. The attack reflected and hit Verdona head on. Gwen giggled again and Verdona's facial expression changed.

Verdona sent several more attacks at Gwen only to have them reflected or sent back with Gwen's mana.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ben and Max watched the girls fight it out. Ben flinched as Gwen, after a small mistake, crashed into a tree. Max sighed and shook his head, "Woman in our family are entirely to hard headed." Ben grinned and looked at his grandpa.

"That's why we love them." Max gave Ben a look that made the boy cough and look at the ground.

Max put his hand on Ben's head and ruffled his hair, "I understand now, what the aliens are doing to your system, but that isn't an excuse. You life isn't the only one that matters now. Gwen is basically your wife, and I expect you take care of her. Your parents won't understand, they probably never will, but that doesn't mean you can't keep her safe." Ben blushed lightly, "Ben. I know that you don't want to hear the sex talk again, and I won't give it to you. I don't need to. Just remember, Gwen has come into her Anodite heritage, Earth medicine won't be effective on her." Ben nodded as Verdona hit the ground and stayed down this time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gwen was sick of the fighting, so it was time to brake the old bat. Gwen closed her eyes and thought about all the things that had brought her here. Ben finding the Omnitrix, their first mission, Hex, Charmcaster, the fear of losing Ben, Kevin, Kai…

A flash of neon pink light shot out and slammed Verdona into the ground for the last time. Verdona looked up at her granddaughter and saw the young woman that was Gwen. The red hair fell in gentle waves to the girls waist and her eyes shone with an inner light that could only be love. The girl wore simple jeans and blue top, she looked simply stunning.

Verdona sat up, her human form returning, and watched Gwen float down into Ben's arms as he held them out to catch her. Max was walking to her, his eyes sparkling with amusement and pride. Verdona looked back at her grandchildren then at her husband, "I was wrong. She doesn't need me to teach her anything. That boy has taught her everything." Max shook his head and helped Verdona to her feet.

"Verdona, Gwen doesn't need a teacher. She needs a grandmother who can tell her things about herself that no one else can answer." the elder woman nodded and smiled at her husband.

"Your right, Max. You always are."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

a/n: And there it is. Verdona's ending. It may take a while for the next chapter so please don't give up on me. Thank you. *bow*