A month later

Ben collapsed on the sofa. His eyes had purple rings of bags under them indicating little sleep. "Ben?" Saundra caressed his back. "She's gone forever" He winced his eyes closed turning his head away. "Ben, I know she's your cousin and family but you have to get some sleep and go back to school," Saundra told him but he shook his head. "Not until I find her" He whispered getting back up and grabbing his keys. "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson back to bed this instant" She growled. "Mum, Uncle Frank and Aunt Lilly are worried sick. I'm worried sick. Everyone's worried sick. I'm finding her" He slammed the door leaving a blonde haired woman on the verge of tears.

Ben rushed through the town looking through every single crack. His phone went off. He considered ignoring it til' he noticed Jimmy's name. "Go," He told the phone. "Hey, Ben it's Jimmy. I found something interesting you might want to check out"

"Not now, Jimmy"

"Okay then but it's got a pretty high energy reading"

"Tell me where"

"Awareness is the enemy of sanity, for once you hear the screaming, it never stops."

Emily Autumn

The voices screamed deep within Gwen's mind like a constant ringing. They never ended. Day and night it was the same damn thing.

It was pure torture.

She relaxed against the back of the cave wall feeling the utter bliss of the constant throbbing in her temple drowning out some of the voices. He hair was a complete mess. She was cascaded in nothing but red scratches and deep purple bruises. He orange jumpsuit was completely wrecked from the Plumbers shooting at her and attempting to capture her time and time again. She missed her family so much but knew that if she went back she'd be caught, handed over to the Plumbers and become nothing but a pet to whoever the man in the lab coat.

"Gwen?" She heard someone call her name ever so gently. It sounded like an angle. A guardian. "Ben?" She whispered smiling. "Ben?" She came to turns with who was actually there. She opened her eyes to the glowing shadow coming from the light of the opening. "No" she whispered. She didn't want to hurt him. She had tried going back many times but it ended in a state of unconsciousness.

Gwen held her head in frustration. She couldn't get the voice whispering to her out of her head. "Please….stop" Gwen winced her eyes shut as tears slid down her cheeks. "Gwen?" She hears someone call out to her again. She looked over to the entrance of the small bleak cave. "G-G-Go away" She shouted at them hunching herself into the corner.

"Gwen?" She saw his shadow coming closer and closer to her. "Gwen, please. Can we just talk?" He asked his shoes skidding over the dust on the cave floor. "Get out…of here" She told him wincing her eyes closed more and letting the tears splinter down her pale cheeks.

"Gwen!" He sighed about to place a hand on her shoulder. She felt as though she were slipping back into the darkness again as the presence began to arise within her soul. In that instance her eyes glowed an extraordinary red colour. She got up and walked over to him as he backed away when he noticed her eyes change. "Gwen, please. I know you're in there?" He caressed her cheek but she snapped his hand away and grabbed his throat chucking him to the ground as she jumped ontop of him and began to strangle him.

He grabbed her wrists and punched her in the mouth making her let out an 'oof' escape her lips as she tumbled to the ground. He came over to her grabbing her by the back of the collar trying furiously to restrain her arms. She turned round and grabbed him pushing him back to the ground.

"Gwen, Stop" He told her as they wrestled to the opening of the cave. His head landed right on the edge giving Gwen the upper hand. He turned his head only now just realizing how far they were away from ground.

"Gwen?" He called out to her as she raised her bloodied fist. "I love you, Gwen" Gwen stared at him the rage dropping from her facial expression. "Wha-"

"I said I love you, I always have and I always will. I'm sorry this happened to you. This is all my fault" a tear trailed down his cheek. A tear ran down Gwen's cheek.

"B-B-Ben?" She looked down at him her eyes still red but fading fast. He smiled when he saw her beautiful green orbs staring down at him with tears in her eyes. "Ben?" the word escaped her lips as she collapsed to far over him and fell.

"GWEN!"

His eyes lit up in terror as he watched the only thing precious to him fall. He quickly turned in haste and tried grabbing her. she looked up at him her eyes barely able to comprehend what had happened. Ben's hand clenched tightly onto her daring to let go. "Gwen, you're slipping" He tried pulling her up but caused more slip. She couldn't comprehend what he was saying. Was she even there? She looked over to him. He was struggling and in a few seconds would fall with her. "I'm sorry," She whispered closing her eyes and looking to the ground. It looked so high from here. She couldn't continue on like this. The pain in his eyes was devastating. "Gwen your other hand"

She released her grip. "Gwen, NO" His hand began to slip and soon was only left grabbing onto her fingers nearly ripping them out of their sockets. "I love you, Ben" Was the last words from her lips as she plummeted to her death. Ben leaned over the edge about to click the omnitrix but it was too late. She fell too quickly. "No," The word escaped his lips. Tears slipped down his face. He knew it was over. All of it. 'THIS IS ALL MY FAULT' the words echoed in his head like nails on a chalk board they were painful to hear. He got up pressed the omnitrix to JetRay and came down slowly to the ground. 'what would they say, real hero; couldn't even save his cousin from a wee fall' he consciousness mocked. He placed his feet on the green mosey grass and stared at the ground returning back to his human self. He collapsed to his knees tears stinging his eyes with dismay.

"Gwen, I'm sorry I couldn't save you" He clutched the grass in his grip.

"Ow" He heard the whimper of a girl. He looked around him trying to find where they were. "Gwen?" He called out. He heard another whimper. He turned his head and looked up towards a tall, brown and green tree covered in many branches. There he spotted an orange blob in the some of the high hanging branches. It tried moving and in an instance came tumbling down. Ben quickly rushed over catching the girl in time from slamming down onto the mud. "Gwen?" He tried waking her up.

She cringed her eyes.

Once. Twice.

Three times before the beautiful emerald orbs appeared.

Ben smiled glad his cousin hadn't of died. "Ben?" Her eyes attempted to adjust. "Ben!" She pushed away from him causing him to tumble back and her to be throw onto the mud. "Ben, Please. You have to stay away from me" Gwen backed away feeling the wetness of the mud trying to suck her in. Ben stood up and tried to whip the muck off his jacket. "We're family" Ben whispered.

It caught Gwen off guard. "Family sticks together" He came over to her and placed his hand out. "I'm not leaving you to suffer on your own," Ben bent down readying to pull the redhead up. Gwen stared at his hand for a while before deciding. She sighed and grabbed his hand. He pulled her up and gently pulled her into a hug. "I'm never letting you go again" He whispered to her. Gwen relaxed in his arms her eyes' gently closing for once her head was clear.

"Ben?"

"Hi, Mum"

"Where are you. I've been worried sick"

"I'm fine, great even… I found, Gwen"

"oh my gosh, where is she? how is she?"

"She's fine, Mum. Sleeping now"

"I'll go tell your Aunt and Uncle. They'll be so happy. We'll meet up at their place"

"Ben?"

"I cant do that. The Plumbers are after her. They'll take her in. I'm gonna take her somewhere safe"

"Ben, Please come home" She begged.

"I cant do that. I love you, Mum. Bye" He put the phone down and looked out to the dessert scenario. Their was nothing in sight except from a few rocks and a long road. The phone post stood isolated ready for customers who had broken down on the side of the road. He looked over to his green and black car to see his cousin in the passenger seat sleeping soundly with a blanket thrown over her. He sighed.

"where are we going to go?"

TENNYSON HOUSEHOLD

Kevin sat there listening to Saundra Tennyson crying her eyes out and telling him what had happened. He rolled a 20 cent piece across his knuckles back and forth as he sat idly by on the couch waiting to say something. Max sat next to him. He looked tired and guilt stricken. 'This was all his fault' Kevin's consciousness screamed.

"Where would they even go?" Lily peeped in as Frank rubbed her back. "The Plumbers control most regions of the Universe. The only place they would go would be sacred ground and uncharted areas and most likely die" Max stated thinking. Tears rolled down Lilly's cheeks. She brought a tissue up to her mouth. "Excuse me" She said getting up and walking out of the room. Frank stared daggers towards his Dad making him feel worse. Max ignored him and turned to Julie. "Did Gwen say anything to you before she decided to wander off?" Max asked as Julie kept her head down. She shook her head and winced her eyes closed. Kevin placed his hand on hers. She looked up to him and into his brown eyes. A connection.

Carl scratched his neck uncomfortably. "So what's the plan. Wait around to find out what happens?" Carl asked. Max shook his head and stood up. "Kevin and I will go after them" Max stated.

"NO,"

Julie screamed standing up. "I'm going to and so's Ship" Julie held tightly onto Kevin's hand. Max was about to argue but nodded in any case. "we better get going then. They couldn't have gone too far.

(Low sounds of blaring music emitting from a pair of earphones)

The RustBucket II was helpful in most cases especially with it's tracking device ripped off. Ben relaxed back in his seat as he held the steering wheel in his left hand and a hand full of chips in his right. He heard the sound of an electric door open and close causing him to look into the reflection of the glass. He smiled. "How was the shower he asked?" He knew Gwen couldn't hear him. The music was screaming into her ear. She walked over to him and bent down next to his seat looking into his green matching eyes. "What's up?" He asked. She was all cleaned up and wearing some of his old clothes. It looked baggy on her but she didn't care. "Did you really mean what you said?" She asked. Ben gave her a confused look. "About you…liking me?" She asked. Ben placed his chips down on the side and turned to her. He nodded smirking as he placed a hand on her cheeked and caressed it. "I always loved you Gwen," He whispered gently. She slowly leaned over him and captured his lips with hers. Ben closed his eyes and relaxed dropping the chips and releasing the wheel. He placed his hand gently onto Gwen's waist bringing her in more and deepening the kiss. "I think I love you too" She whispered into his ear.

'BANG'

Ben pushed her away and looked at the large crack in the glass. "Meteorites again" Ben complained slumping and placing his hands on the control raising the ship in a diagonal direction. Gwen quietly moved over to her seat watching him the whole time making sure he didn't kill them both.

5hrs Later

The redhead awoke sometime later to find the RustBucket had landed. She opened her eyes and removed her earphones noticing the battery had died. "Ben?" She called out hoping he was around. She stood up and looked around.

The window was filled with tiny cracks and a very large hole leading to the outside. "BEN?" She was starting to get worried. She took a step forward about to jump out of it until a swarm of pain overtook her body and she fell to the ground. The last thing she remembered was seeing a bright magnetic light.

"Ow" She mimed holding her head in utter pain. She felt uncomfy but comfy at the same time. She lifted her heavy hand up and placed it on her head. "There. See. She's waking up" She heard a woman's voice.

"Grandma?" She opened her eyes to find her Verdona in her human form. She turned her head fully to find a normal looking living room. Gwen noticed that she was laying on a dark brown leather couch with a blanket over her. The walls were purple and there was a 70's looking boombox in the corner with a few CD cases stacked ontop.

"Gwen?" She felt a hand come down on her cheek. She grabbed it as it caressed her face. "Grandma. What are you doing here? Where's Ben?" She asked trying to get up but she pushed her back down. "Ben's upstairs with Sunny. He told me everything" Verdona kissed her forehead. "I'm here to help you" She said giving her a quick smirk. "Here? Where's here?" She asked looking around trying to get up yet again. Verdona clicked her fingers making binds coming around Gwen's body causing her to collapse back down onto the sofa. She struggled furiously until Verdona placed her hand back down onto her cheek. "Please, try to relax deary" She leaned forward.

"You're on Antodyne" Gwen gulped.

"Why?" She whispered. "Gwen, you're safe now. Plumbers are forbidden here" She lifted the pillow next to Gwen and placed it behind her head. "And we can fix you're little problem you've been having" She winked standing up and clicking her fingers removing the binds. Gwen rubbed her arms and watched her grandmother hover out of the room and towards the kitchen. She sat up and brought her knees in to a tight hug.

"BAHAHAHA" Sunny laughed as Ben crossed his arms not in the best of moods. "IT'S NOT FUNNY" Ben shouted at her. "Of course its funny. She's going insane. This is just what the Prefect princess deserves" Sunny smirked resting against her chair. "Why are you here anyway, Sunny. Come to knock torture her?" Ben asked crossing his arms and laying on the large cushion. Sunny pulled out a medium sized camera. "Of course" She got up and walked out. "I seriously thought electricity was illegal here" Ben sighed following her.

He walked down the stairs and saw the two females sitting on the couch. Verdona passed Gwen a hot steaming drink of what looked like tea. She took it gently and cradled it in her hand about to drink it until she saw her cousin. "Ben!" She tried to get up yet again but Verdona pushed her back down. "Gwendolyn, drink" Verdona pushed the mug up to her mouth. Gwen sighed gulping it down as Ben walked up to her placing a hand on her leg. "How are you feeling?" Ben asked her. Gwen put the mug down and stared up into his green orbs. "Fine, Better even" She turned to Verdona. "You said you could help me?" Gwen asked desperately. "Of course, kiddo" She placed her hands on Gwen's temples.

"Now, Just keep still" Verdona's eyes began to glow and soon Gwen's. Ben sat back and watched the two intrigued. "Nuh," There's was a quick flash and Verdona forced her hands away worried. Gwen opened her eyes and stared up at her. "You can't help me can you?" Gwen slumped. Verdona gulped and looked down. "I'm going crazy. The voices wont stop" Gwen winced her eyes closed and scrunched her hands placing them to her head. "You're not going crazy, Kiddo" Verdona placed a hand on her back trying to comfort her. it made her relax a little until the words poured out of her mouth.

"There's a parasite in you"

"A parasite?" Gwen stood up. "GET IT OUT OF ME" She took steps away from them and began hitting her head. "Gwen, Stop" Verdona stood up trying to calm her down. Sunny smiled and raised the camera taking a picture. "Priceless" Sunny laughed. Ben stared daggers towards her.

Verdona clasped Gwen's hands and made her look up at her. "Gwen, I don't think you understand. That things not coming out" Verdona told her. "Not coming out what do you mean not coming out it's a parasite?" Gwen asked fearing for her life. "Gwen, Sweety" Verdona sat her back down still keeping a tight hold on her. "If we try rip it out then it'll kill you. it's been connected to you for too long. If we found it in the first week of contracting it then we could've got it out but…" Verdona cut herself off looking at her scared and upset granddaughter.

"I'm so sorry, Kiddo" Gwen winced her eyes closed tear drops hitting her thighs. Ben rubbed her back gently trying to comfort her. it didn't work. "Isnt there anything you can do? We've come all this way" Ben asked desperately. Verdona looked up to him and nodded. "we could try teach you how to control it" Gwen's eyes opened and looked up at her. "But it could take some time" Verdona said a little unsure.

"W-Will it stop the voices?" Gwen asked begging. Verdona caressed her cheek. "I'm not too sure. Maybe" Gwen smiled. "It's a chance" Ben stated. A smile emerged on Gwen's face.

"Where do we start?"

Thankyou everyone for the reviews so far. Special thanks to Clouffie1986, The Cretin, gabylokita41 segundo vargas-Yes by the way Gwen's darkside has an obsession with Ben,Masato Nakajima, Hakuryuu & Djedefre.

P.S. there will be a sequel to this if anyones wondering and will be set in the Ben 10,000 era.