Author's Note: I own nothing.

24 Goodbyes

Kevin had to do a quick cleanup as Al carried Jen into his apartment. He tossed everything off of his old thrift store couch and Al laid the brunette down on the couch. Gwen was shaking and Kevin took hold of her hand.

"Has anything like this ever happened before?" He asked as he guided Gwen to a chair. His furniture was mixed, what he could find or scrounge enough Earth cash to buy cheap. Gwen shook her head as she took a deep breath.

"No. This hasn't happened before. Not like this. Sometimes when Jen overuses the Omnitrix she'll sleep for most of the next day but she's never passed out like this before." Al stood.

"She is alright. Exhaustion, nothing more. She just needs rest. Food when she wakes would not be a bad idea." Kevin nodded.

"I don't really have anything at the moment, been a bit busy with the DNAliens and everything else that's been happening to go grocery shopping." Gwen pulled out her phone.

"Pizza alright with everyone?" They all nodded and Gwen called in an order while Kevin searched through his things to find a spare blanket. He ended up pulling the blanket off his bed, he apparently didn't have a spare. He honestly hadn't expected to bring people over to this apartment. But here he was tossing a comforter over the girl who had once been his worst enemy then going to comfort her cousin. The pizza was delivered quickly and the three conscious beings sat around nibbling. They all jumped as Al's phone began to ring.

"My apologies." He answered the call. "Veraxi? Yes I am quite well. They have actually pulled back! That is wonderful news! Yes, we are all well. We can contact my parents in a while, I am waiting for Jen to awaken. I will explain some other time." He hung up and glanced over at the couch.

"The Incursions left?" Jen's voice was a little rough with sleep. Gwen leapt into her cousin's arms. Jen hugged the redhead as Kevin laughed lightly. Al smiled, the stars in his skin twinkling.

"Yes they have. The three of you have saved my world in one night. Thank you." Jen grinned sleepily as she sat up. She yawned as Gwen fussed. Kevin held out a soda and Jen downed it quickly. He handed her another and grabbed the pizza box, setting it in front of the cousins. Jen dug in immediately as Gwen began to tell her everything that happened after she'd transformed. Jen stayed quiet, as her mouth was full. Al and Kevin added in pieces of information here and there but Gwen told her the majority of the story.

"I'm glad it all worked out." She said stretching and smiling. "We should probably get you back to Veraxi figure out what's going on back on Apollo l." Albrasix smiled.

"The Incursions have retreated entirely. Veraxi received a communication from my parents, asking what happened. I would like to have the three of you there when I explain what happened, if you do not mind." They all nodded.

"Tomorrow?" Al nodded and kissed the back of Jen's hand.

"That sounds lovely. Veraxi is on her way to pick me up for the night. I must thank you again, you have saved my whole world." Jen smiled, her face going a bit red.

"I didn't do that much this time around." There was a sharp rap on the door and Al stepped over to it, Jen following him. They said goodbye at the door, it was slightly awkward as neither of them seemed to know what to do. In the end Al simply kissed Jen's hand again and left, getting into the back of Veraxi's car. Jen watched the car turn the corner. Then she flopped back onto the couch.

"Never again!" Her voice was muffled as she spoke into the comforter.

"Why not? When it was working you kicked some serious ass." Jen glared at Kevin from her spot on his couch.

"It's not worth the price. Trust me." Gwen nodded lightly kicking Kevin when he went to argue again. Jen knew what her lines were and she would not cross them. It was what made her a good hero. She stuck to her guns and her rules, they didn't make sense to everyone but they were solid.

Their talk with the royalty of Apollo l went well. Kevin kept his mouth shut and let Gwen and Jen do the talking. Gwen was a fantastic diplomat, she could have a future in it if she wanted. They were beyond grateful to the three of them for all they had done for Albrasix and for the planet as a whole. They promised them rewards beyond imagining and Jen and Gwen turned them all down, Jen stepping on Kevin's foot before he could speak up. Once they'd been dismissed so Al could have a moment to speak with his parents alone Jen spoke before Kevin could argue.

"We don't do it for the reward Kevin. We do it to save lives. Let that be it's own reward." He rolled his eyes as Gwen nodded. Al stepped over to them after a few more minutes.

"I would thank you on behalf of my people again." He went quiet for a moment. "A transport will be here tomorrow to return me to Apollo l." Kevin blinked, it hadn't occurred to him that the only reason Al was here was because of the war on his planet. Without the threat of the Incursions Al would have to go home, back to his responsibilities as a prince. Gwen took Kevin's hand.

"Hey Kevin, I need you to help me with something over by the car." He nodded, taking her hint that they should give the couple a moment.

Al was silent for a moment.

"I will be unable to convince you to come away with me." It wasn't really a question. Jen still shook her head though.

"You have responsibilities back home, I have responsibilities here. I think we both knew this was going to happen eventually." Al nodded at her words.

"True, it does not mean I am exactly happy with this outcome. My people are safe, I owe you a debt I can never repay. But I am losing you." Jen glanced down at her shoes. Al took her hand. "I will not ask you to wait for me. It would be unfair to both of us." Jen looked up at him, a bit surprised. "I care for you deeply. Will you be here to say goodbye tomorrow? I would ask you to be." Jen nodded.

"I'll be here." Her voice caught in her throat, she wanted to say more. She liked Al she really did, but she couldn't leave. She had too much going on here. She couldn't abandon Earth, not after everything she'd ever done to keep this world safe. Al nodded and kissed her on the back of the hand. She hesitated but nodded and turned back to Kevin's car. She was silent the whole way home.

The next night came too quickly for her tastes. They met outside of town. Veraxi handed off her ID mask to Kevin, claiming she wouldn't need it back home. It didn't take too long for the ship to land. They were met at the ship by several other Apollonites, all dressed in bright pink. Their clothes were similar to the chitons of ancient Greece. Jen held that bit of irony to herself. They all bowed. Albrasix smiled and gestured three of the guards forward. Each carried something. Al motioned the first one forwards.

"Kevin Levin, you have been a true friend to me, and assisted me with my time on Earth. As thanks I present you with this." The guard pressed a button, which appeared to be the only thing he was holding. A small cart came down the ramp of the ship, with several metal crates on it. "The finest car parts that could be found on Apollo l, all fitted to accept the Earths sun rays as a power source." Kevin grinned as he was handed the remote to the cart.

"Thanks, your highness." There was only a little bit of sarcasm in his voice and it went unnoticed anyway. Al nodded and turned to the next guard who was holding a rather large book.

"Gwendolyn Tennyson. You are wise beyond your years. I have only known you for a short time but I believe you will be excellent at whatever you chose to be. This book is from the Royal Library of Apollo l, it contains many old spells that may be of use to you. Learn well."

"Thank you your highness!" Gwen grinned excitedly as she was handed the large tome. Then Al turned to Jen and took her hand.

"Jen Tennyson, hero of hundreds of worlds. Hero of my world. You have my thanks for all eternity. There is nothing I could do to express my gratitude for all you have done for me since learning of my presence here on your world. I hope these small gifts will in some way shows my gratitude." He gestured the final guard forward. He held forth a small circular device. It was green and black. Jen took it and tapped it. It grew in seconds to a full hover board. Jen smiled. Al turned to the guard and took the box he still held and opened it. It held a necklace, the chain was silver and delicate the pendant was carefully carved into the symbol of the Omnitrix, surrounded in silver and obsidian it looked like a jewel encrusted Plumbers badge but much smaller.

"This is not merely something to accentuate your beauty. It is a short range communicator. You should be able to pick up faster than light transmissions and make calls with it as well. I believed you would appreciate something of substance rather than something simply decorative." Jen smiled and reached out a hand to him. He took it and kissed the back of it.

"I'm gonna miss you Al." Al's smile was sad.

"I will miss you as well. May I?" He leaned in slightly and Jen nodded. The kiss was soft and short, just a press of lips. They pulled apart as Veraxi shook hands with the other two and bowed. They were saluted as Veraxi and Al stepped aboard the ship. The guards loaded onto the ship and the three humans watched as it took off. Kevin turned to the boxes as the ship ascended to the upper atmosphere. Gwen turned away to check out what Kevin had received, her new book tucked under her arm. Jen kept watching until she couldn't pick out the difference between the ship and the stars. Gwen set her book down on the front seat of Kevin's car. She stepped over to Jen and put her hand on her shoulder.

"We should get going." Jen nodded, scrubbing at her eyes and deactivating the hoverboard in her hands. She slipped the necklace on and scrubbed her eyes.

"You're right, we have work to do."