Chapter 24: Reunited

A/N: Hello and welcome to the final two chapters! This is probably going to be the closest thing to a happy chapter for this story. For those of you that never believed that Gwen was actually dead, well, this chapter will probably be something special for you. I really can't say anything else, you just have to read it. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter and read on!

7:30 P.M.

Ben's Parent's House

I let out a sigh as I stood on my parent's front porch. Since visiting Gwen's grave, I had gone back to the Rust Bucket and taken off the armor. I was now in my street clothes and I was standing on my parent's front porch. I have to do this. I promised myself, and I promised Gwen that I'd go back home, finish high school and start a life for myself. So, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. About a minute later, the door opened. I took a deep breath, as I looked at my mom. "Benjamin. You're home. Finally." she said. I couldn't say anything. I felt guilty, as I saw her begin to tear up. She crushed me in a bear hug, which was understandable, seeing as she thought I was dead for the past six months. I hugged her back, as I heard her cry. Finally home? What does she- Then, I saw that the T.V. was on, and I saw they had it on the news channel, and it was a report of what had happened at Vilgax's bunker. Oh. So, they saw everything on the news? Wow. Wasn't expecting that. I remembered the very last thing I had said to them, that day, six months earlier.

I hate you both! I do not, for the love of God, ever want to see you again as long as I live! I started to tear up as well. "Mom, I'm sorry." I said. "What's that, Ben?" she asked. My dad joined the hug, which, I honestly needed this right now. I needed to be hugged. I wanted to be hugged by Gwen, but being hugged by my parents, it was just as well. I could finally rest, knowing that I had avenged Gwen. My sacrifice, it had made a difference. "What are you sorry for, Ben?" my dad asked. I sighed. "When I left six months ago, I told you guys that I hated you and I didn't ever want to see you guys again." I said. "And now, I regret every word." I had to talk to Grandpa Max when I dropped off the armor. And he told me that if I wanted to be a plumber, that I needed a code name. But, I guess I disappointed him, when I told him that the battle with Vilgax was my last. "You still need to be known as something." Grandpa Max had said. "What do you want the news to call you? Just, Ben Tennyson?" I remember thinking I couldn't be known simply as "Ben 10", I needed something that could serve as a secret identity. That's when I thought of it. "Have them call me, 'The Darkest Knight'." I had told him. And so it was.

I looked at the T.V. and read the news headline: Ben Tennyson, "The Darkest Knight", slays alien overlord. I smiled. I loved the headline. "Ben, we forgive you." my mom finally said. "And we're sorry about everything we said about Gwen. Her death wasn't at all for the best." They pulled away from the hug. "So, am I allowed to live here? How am I going to pay for faking my death? Can I still go to school? What am I going to do?" I asked. "Ben, just calm down." my father said. "Yes. You have always been allowed in this house and that will never change." My mother nodded. "You don't have to worry about paying the charges at all. The Plumbers are going to handle it." she said. "Wait, really? The Plumbers?" I asked. They nodded. "They are covering up your faked death." my father said. "Something about an error in the morgue. You were 'mistaken' for a recently deceased Plumber." They both winked at me. "So, it's all okay? I can go back to school?" I asked. They both nodded. "You can live a normal life. You don't even half to do hero work, the Plumbers are giving you the option of an early 'retirement'." my father said, winking again.

"We are very proud of you Benjamin." my mother said. "You did the right thing tonight. Even if you handled it violently. We are still proud of you. Removing that alien threat was the right thing to do." I smiled. "Thanks mom, thanks dad." They nodded. My dad closed the door and beckoned for me to sit down. I did. I sat down on one of the single person couches. "You've made a name for yourself." my father said, looking at the T.V. "Ben Tennyson: 'The Darkest Knight'. Honestly, I would have preferred Ben 10: The Darkest Knight. As in the number ten." I shrugged. "I just used the first thing that came to mind." I said. "It doesn't matter son. I'm just trying to give you a hard time." he said. "Like I said, dear, we are very proud. You took down the assailant that murdered your cous-, er, your girlfriend. You gave her justice." my mother said. "Wait. Girlfriend?" I asked. "But you said-" I stopped talking, when I saw the twinkle in my mom's eyes. "It's okay Benjamin. We understand. Gwen was very smart, very likeable and strikingly beautiful. You two would have made a good team and great parents if you would have been given the chance." my mother said. "But she's dead. I will never have that chance." I said. "Ben, if you had that chance, looking back on how much you two adored one another, we would have approved."

I smiled a sad smile. "Thanks. But it won't ever happen for me. My best bet is to consider Kai." I said. "Like we said, you defeated that alien." my mother said. "I had help. If it weren't for my friends, I wouldn't have been able to get into the bunker. Kevin helped me, along with a mysterious, unknown vigilante dressed in black, wears a black mask and a black cloak. Calls herself 'Azrael'." I said. "Azrael?" my dad asked. "Yeah, I know it sounds weird. She first appeared fighting crime in the city a month after Gwen passed away. She claims that she is a friend and an ally, but I don't know if I can trust her. She knew magic. Just like two of my villains. And, well, just like Gwen." I said. "Azrael?" my dad asked again. I nodded. "Why do you keep repeating yourself, dad? Cat got your tongue?" I asked. "She showed up half an hour before you got here." he said. "Who? Azrael?" I asked. My dad nodded. "Why? What did she want?" I asked. My dad shrugged. "She told us her story. Said she needed to talk to you, whenever you got here. Something about tying up loose ends." My mother said. "And you let her in? Just like that?!" I asked, standing up in surprise.

"Benjamin, calm down!" my dad said. "If she helped you get into the bunker, she is truely and ally of yours." my mom replied. "And she revealed her identity to us. It shouldn't surprise you that it's someone you know. She, she's, well she is-" My mom cut herself off. "You can't tell me. Only she can?" I asked. They nodded. "When did she leave?" I asked. "How do I find her?" My mom shook her head. "She never left. She's waiting for you to approach her. In your room. We never touched your room Ben. So, it shouldn't surprise you that you'll find it just to be the way you left it." she said. "So, should I-?" Before I could finish my question, my mom just nodded. I took a deep breath, "Okay then. Well, here I go, then." I said. I walked towards my room and I realized they weren't lying. For one, the light was on and the door was open just a crack. I opened my bedroom door, to see Azrael, still wearing her black costume, mask and cloak, with the hood up, standing by my window. "Well, this isn't creepy at all." I said. She turned around to face me. "What do you want?" I asked. "To understand." Azrael replied. "To understand what?" I asked.

"You never told me what Vilgax did to you." she said. "You wouldn't understand." I said, in a gruff tone. "Maybe if you tell me, I'd understand." she said. "He killed my girlfriend." I said. "Mmm-hmm. And I'm truely sorry. But, you made me a promise. You said that if I helped you, I'd earn your trust." she said. "We're still not friends. Why should we be allies?" I asked. "Gwen would want you to have allies. She'd want me to be your ally." she said. "You didn't know Gwen. You wouldn't know what she would or wouldn't want." I said. "Are you sure? Do you want to ask her yourself?" Azrael asked. I just laughed in a sarcastic tone. "Gwen is dead, Azrael. I can't ask her. How could I possibly do that? The only thing I could do was avenge her. I did it. I killed Vilgax for her. I did what I had to do." I said. "Gwen would be proud." she said. "How do you know that? I already told you, you don't know Gwen." I said. "I don't have to know Gwen. And how do I know that she would be proud of you? I just know." she said. "She would be proud. Gwen would be proud. I, am proud, Ben." I looked at Azrael, with a confused look on my face. "What do you mean, you are proud?" I asked.

"I don't have to live as this lie anymore, Ben. Vilgax was always getting into the way and tonight, you finished him for good." she said. I shook my head. "I still don't understand." I said. Azrael gently gripped my shoulder left shoulder. "Ben, you will always be my doofus. And I will always be your dweeb." Azrael said. Dweeb? No, Azrael is... I began to tear up, as Azrael pulled away and put her hood down. Then, she grabbed her mask and removed it. She let go of her mask, letting it fall onto the floor. I stared at her face. At her fiery red hair. At her emerald green eyes. I stared at the face of my girlfriend, Gwen Tennyson. "Gwen..." I said, as I began to cry. "How-? Why?" I began to cry like a baby, as I engulfed her in a bear hug. Gwen hugged me back, as I continued to cry. I had no idea if they were tears of joy, or if they were authentic tears of sadness. "What did you do? What happened? I don't un- I don't-" I couldn't finish my sentence, I was crying too hard to even speak. "Shh." Gwen said, as she hugged me back. I heard her tear up as well. "It's okay, Ben. Cry if you have to. I'll explain in just a little bit." she said. I just cried a little harder and she hugged me tighter. "April Fools, Dweeb." she said. That only made me cry even harder.

Fifteen Minutes Later...

I was sitting with Gwen on the couch in the living room, which she still had the black suit on that she wore to disguise herself. We were holding hands, as she told her story. I couldn't only listen and kind of stare off into space, as my eyes were red and puffy from crying. "The day he came to see me in the hospital, I was already considering faking my death. I even had a spell ready to go." she was saying. "When he came up to see me, we spoke for a while and one of the things that he spoke about, was killing Vilgax. That's when I knew, that I had to get out of the picture and hide. So, Ben, when you had your back turned to me, I whispered the incantation and then closed my eyes. The spell was supposed to lower my heart beat, so it was undectable. I didn't count on the monitor flatlining though." My dad spoke, since I was unwilling to. "It's okay Gwendolyn, honey. The important thing, is that you were able to stay safe." he said. "Ben was telling me how he needed to stop Vilgax before he went too far and attempted to kill our entire family and his friends. I was listening, but I couldn't respond. Eventually, he asked me if I was alright. He started to attempt to give me CPR. I tried not to move, or make any sound. But one small groan escaped my lips and I was sure that I was caught. Fortunately, seconds later, the monitor flatlined and I was pretty sure that I had succeeded in making him believe I was dead" Gwen continued to tell her story, as she squeezed my hand.

"Ben, I'm sorry that I scared you by faking my death, but it wasn't safe for me to be in the way. I had to hide until you took care of Vilgax." Gwen said. I didn't say anything, I just kept staring off into space. "Ben? Can you hear me? Please answer me!" Gwen began to shake me, but I didn't budge. "Gwen, Ben has probably been traumatized by you revealing that you were alive the whole time. He'll speak in time." my mom said. I wasn't traumatized. I just didn't know what to say. Don't get me wrong, I was content with holding Gwen's hand once again, but I was too shocked to say anything. "The worst part had to be the autopsy. When the examiners were examing my 'body', I tried so hard to not make a sound or move. It was very difficult. Especially, when I had to hold my breath." Gwen said. "The autopsy eventually ended and my death was ruled as 'mysterious circumstances'. I remember being put into a gown and into a casket. When I was in the funeral home and I overheard that Ben had died, I feared the worst. But after the services were over and we were left to be buried, I heard his voice outside of my casket."

"He asked me how was it possible, me being dead. I longed to respond, but I couldn't, it would risk everything that I had planned out. He said that it didn't make any sense. He asked me if I had used a spell." she continued. She looked at me, and I could barely see the smile on her face. "Pretty clever, watch boy. You figured out what I had done long before I would have revealed myself." Gwen poked me in the rib with her elbow, but I barely responded. I just took a breath of air and that was it. I began to tear up again, but I didn't cry. I just let the tears slowly run down my face. "Ben? Why won't you speak to me?" Gwen asked. I shook my head, as the tears continued to come. I felt like I was four years old again. I felt like I didn't know how to talk. I felt, betrayed. I felt as if someone pulled a big prank on one of my friends and I was never let in on the secret. I felt left behind, left out, whatever. "He told me that loved me. And that was all that mattered. He promised that he would never stop until Vilgax had been stopped or until he was dead. Dead or stopped, Ben said that he didn't care which. He said 'one way or another, he will be stopped'." Gwen continued to tell her story. "But he made a mistake. He was clumsy, he spent too much time in the cemetary and his friends Kai, J.T. and Cash found him out. Once he left, and I knew the coast was clear, I left my casket and tried to stay hidden."

"I uh, had to go to Grandpa Max whenever Ben wasn't around, and he helped me make a suit that could disguise me. And I'm wearing it right now. He also made me the mask that I wore. And I snuck into my parent's house when they weren't home to get the cloak I wore with the costume. I wore it with my Lucky Girl costume for Halloween a few years ago. I just poked a few holes in it and put it on." Gwen said. Great. Grandpa Max knew that Gwen was alive and he never told me! "After that, I began to train my magic abilities and martial arts. I was going to operate under the name of Lucky Girl or even Lucky Woman, but I knew if I did that, Ben would know it was me. I had previously used that name when we were ten. I began fighting crime a month after my 'death', hoping to follow in Ben's footsteps. Since after our Ben's 'death', Bellwood thought that they had lost their savior. And so, the city became corrupted by crime, with Vilgax being a 'mob boss' of sorts. I thought Ben could use all the help that he could get, but I still couldn't tell him who I was underneath the cloak and mask. When I helped him out tonight, he had called me 'Azrael', the name of a comic book character. Technically, no one was using the alias. So, I took it for myself and I was sure that I would be safe from being unmasked before it was planned."

"And that's your whole story?" my mom asked. "Yes." Gwen said. "Well, Ben? Do you forgive me?" Gwen turned her head to look at me, with puppy dog eyes. I thought for a moment. Well, of course I do, Dweeb! But, I need time to think about what I'm going to do with this thing. I looked down at the Omnitrix. Now that Vilgax is dead, I think the crime rate will decline greatly. I don't need to go hero anymore. I don't need the Omnitrix. But I don't know if I can disappoint Azmuth like that. I don't know if I'm ready to take it off just yet. I smiled just a little and squeezed her hand. "I..." I tried to speak, but eventually I sighed and gave up. I got up from the couch, letting go of Gwen's hand. I turned around to face them once I had walked a little bit aways from the couch. "Okay. I do forgive you Gwen. I would really, really like it if we could stay in this relationship we had. But I need sometime to think. And it's not about us." I said. I pointed at the Omnitrix. "It's about this thing." I said, my voice cracked and I sounded like I was disgusted by the Omnitrix. "I killed Vilgax tonight. And I think after doing that, I can finally take a breather from this thing for a while. I'm just gonna go think on this for a while."

I went into the bathroom and turned on the water. I once the shower was on and the water was running, I took off my clothes and got in. As my hair became soaked with the warm shower water, I looked at the Omnitrix. That's when it hit me. It's this thing's fault that Vilgax tried to kill Gwen! She had to fake her death because of this thing! I let out a sigh. This thing has got to go. This has caused all of our troubles since the day I got it! But... it's the primary reason why Gwen and I got together in the first place! If I didn't have the Omnitrix, then Vilgax would never have came after me! And Gwen... Gwen would never have fell for me. "I don't understand." I said. "I'm so confused." Maybe it is a good idea to get rid of this thing though. Vilgax is dead and the crime levels will probably decrease significantly. In theory, I may never have to go alien again. I may never have to deal with Kthulu again! That is a sweet deal. I had made up my mind.

Thirty Minutes Later...

I had since gotten out of the shower, gotten dressed and now I was just lying on my bed, pretty much doing nothing. I had the T.V. on, but I wasn't even paying attention to it. I was still too much in shock to really do much of anything or say anything. I had my phone on, scrolling through all of the texts that Gwen and I had sent each other in the last year. They kept going up until six months ago, the supposed day of her death. Well, faked death, I guess. I sighed as a lone tear rolled down my cheek. I don't know why I was still crying over Gwen. She was alive and even, better, we are kind of living under the same roof, at least as of tonight. Speaking of Gwen, I was expecting her at one point. I heard a knock at my slightly open door. "Knock, knock." I looked up to see Gwen poking her head out from the other side of the door. "Come on in." I said, as I gestured her to come in. Looks like I finally found the courage to speak... But for how long? "Are you okay?" she asked, as she walked in and sat down at the foot of my bed. She was wearing a simple T-shirt and pajama pants.

"I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore." I said, as I sighed. "But you do." she said, as she scooted closer to me. "I'm Gwen Tennyson. Your cousin. Your best friend. Your girlfriend." I sighed, as I sat up and sat on the edge of the bed. "I- I don't think we can be together anymore, Gwen." I said. Gwen didn't speak for about thirty seconds. Then, I felt heat and pain on my cheek as she smacked me. "How could you even say that?!" she exclaimed. "After everything we've ever been through! And you're just- you're just going to abandon me?! Like when we were ten?!" I shook my head. "Gwen, it's not like that. It's likely the whole school knows about our relationship, being cousins and all, if not the entire city." I said. "And our family knows." Gwen gripped my hand in reassurance. "Your parents gave you their blessing to be with me." she said. "But, your parents-" I said. "My parents are okay with it, too. Ben, we don't have to hide this anymore! We can hold hands in public, we can kiss in public, it doesn't matter!" she said. "We can finally be in a peaceful relationship! No more Vilgax! No more hiding!" I squeezed her hand.

"You think we can actually do it?" I asked. "Ben, one day we could be married and have children! I'm sure of it! I can see it!" she said. I sighed. "What, like deformed children? You know what happens when relatives have children, right?" I asked. "You are such a doofus!" she exclaimed, before she kissed my cheek. "That's just a myth that scares cousins and relatives, to make sure that they don't have children! We'll be fine!" I smiled and for the first time, in a long time, I actually felt happy. "Oh, Gwen..." I said, as I turned and hugged her tightly. It feels like that missing part of my heart that went away after Gwen "died", it feels like that it's been sewn back in! I felt her return the hug. "Don't get too comfortable." Gwen said, as she giggled. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Your mom told me to tell you, to leave the door open!" she said. After about a minute of holding her, I pulled away and got up. "Gwen, if we're going to be together, I have to do one more thing." I said. Gwen looked at me with a curious look. "What do you mean?" she asked. "What do you have to do?" I lifted my Omnitrix arm and looked at it. "Omnitrix, I want access to all of the codes." I said. "Affirmative." it responded.

A holographic screen appeared, with a list of codes on it. And at the very top, was Resignation Code 584672-7B. I sighed. "Omnitrix, activate Resignation Code 584672-7B." I said. It beeped. "Are you sure?" it asked. It kills me to do this. For four years, this thing had been my best friend, like a brother to me, even though it was just a watch. "I am sure. Activate." It beeped again. "Did I do a good job? Did you achieve your goals?" it asked. "You did a spectacular job." I said. "All of my goals have been met." The Omnitrix beeped yet again. "Initiating deactivation." it said. "Ben?" Gwen asked, her voice hinted she was worried. "Yes," I said. "Shut it all down." Gwen got up and put her hand on my shoulder. "Ben!" she said. "Detaching in five seconds." the Omnitrix said, before the green lights on it flickered and went out. After five seconds, the Omnitrix made a hissing sound and it fell off of my wrist. I caught it before it hit the floor and put it on the night stand next to my bed. Gwen looked at me, still with a look of confusion on her face.

"But, why Ben?" she asked. "Gwen, I don't need this thing anymore! This thing was the very reason that we had to fake our deaths!" I said. "But Ben, you could still use that!" Gwen said. I shook my head. "Gwen, there won't be anymore crime in the city! I can almost be sure of that! I don't need to use the Omnitrix anymore! It's over! I can finally have a happy life, with you!" I said. Gwen smiled. "Ben, that makes me feel so happy..." she said, as she hugged me. After a minute or so of hugging me, she sighed. "What is it?" I asked. "Are you tired, Ben?" she asked. Is she hinting that she wants to sleep in the same bed tonight? Well, now that I think about it, I haven't had a good night's sleep since I faked my death! "Yeah, I guess I am tired." I said, as I yawned. "Then let's get under the covers and we'll go to sleep." Gwen said. I yawned again, as I pulled back the covers. Gwen flicked off the light. "You sure that your parents will be cool with this?" Gwen asked, as she crawled into bed next to me. "I'm pretty sure, as long as we leave the door open." I said. A second later, Gwen playfully hit me. "You perv!" she said, as she laughed. She got on top of me and rested her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and eventually, I fell asleep.

A/N: So, what did you guys think of this chapter! Are you all glad that Ben and Gwen are back together? I mean, Gwen was never dead in the first place, she just faked her death just like Ben did. But, they are back together now! And VIlgax is dead. Or is he? Well, anyway, there is going to be a final chapter, well, more like an epilogue. Well, if you did enjoy this chapter, please favorite and follow this story. If you want to submit input, you can submit a review or PM me. I am going to go though, so have a good day and bye.