Chapter 5

"SHUT UP, YOU BITCH!"

Kevin's scream, or rather, his roar echoed through the control room and Frank's office, freezing the other three people in shock. Especially Ben, who stared at his best friend with concern. Kevin's face was getting red, with a vein pulsing on his forehead.
"I can't stand it anymore!" he yelled as he pulled his hair "Stop whining 'my family this, my family that!' Stop playing the victim to manipulate everyone! I've put up with you a lot, but I won't let NOBODY look down on the plumbers – not even Gwen's mother! Who do you think you are? YOU HAVEN'T THE RIGHT TO TALK TO BEN LIKE THIS!"

Natalie couldn't answer. She was frozen in pure terror. The young man's reddened face, framed by locks of black hair, looked like a male, horrifying version of Medusa's head to her. She held out a hand to turn off the communication, but Frank's hand stopped her. He gave her a stern look, in a silent but clear message: 'Now it's your turn to listen'."
"I don't know if Ben's parents wish the Omnitrix would be busted," Kevin went on, without noticing the exchange of looks between the couple "but I know one thing: they never would pressure their son to give up on everything he loves to get a PhD, so Carl and Sandra could show off to their folks! Just like you do to Gwen! She is a wonderful person, a fantastic sorcerer, a plumber as amazing as her grandpa and someday she'll become even more powerful than Verdona! Still, she's always felt guilty of all that stuff, because she disappointed you... because the only Gwen her parents love is the good as gold princess whom cared only about her studies! What did you say earlier? 'She doesn't look like my daughter when she's shining!' Is that why you guys told Verdona that she could take Gwen away?" he finished with scorn.
Frank and Natalie could hardly breath, in face of Kevin's verbal whipping, so they were completey caught off-guard. The question fell over them like a bomb. Once they recovered from the shock, they burst into protests and lectures about Kevin's nerve. Natalie had said that horrible phrase on a whim! Of course they never had wished Gwen to go away!
"Oh, really?" Kevin scorned as he crossed his arms "So why did you never say that to her?"
The couple fell into a very awkward silence. It never had ocurred any of them to say, because they found it unnecessary. It was so obvious... or not?
"Gwen must have asked herself the same, more than once" Ben commented in support of his friend "You two never concealed how uncomfortable you feel about her Anodyte side. Back in that night, I didn't understand why Gwen was so upset, but I thought a lot about this afterwards. And I realized she was expecting that you forbid her of going away with Grandma Verdona."
Frank and Natalie exchanged a guilty look.
"We were scared, Ben " the lawyer explained "You know how your grandmother is. She can't take easily one no."
"Just like your mother-in-law" Kevin remarked "It's hard for Gwen to be a tug-of-war between two overwhelming grandmas, but it's much more sad that she never has received any support from you two."
"Now wait a moment! " Frank demanded, his patience wearing off "We wronged with Gwen, and a lot. But I won't admit you to accuse us of negligence. We never should have allowed her to help Ben and you, but we did, and..."

"Yeah, you did" Kevin cut him off, his tone sassier than before. He clapped his hands "Congratulations for your kindness! You allowed her to work because you knew that she wouldn't stay still while Ben and I risked our lives! But you demanded conditions. She had to keep her grades high and to be at her mom's beck and call, busy or not! Like when Natalie talked Gwen into writing a thousand of invitations at the same day when Doctor Animo planned to fry Bellwood, remember? But, when your daughter broke her leg, none of you took the time to see her in the E.R.! Have you ever seen her fighting karate, for that matter? Your wife adores showing Gwen's black belt to your guests, but she never bothered to watch your daughter winning a competition! Who's the big victim, now?!"
Frank knew he was defeated. He recalled the invitatons case too well, because he had given Natalie a piece of his mind about the abuse. Gwen had an important test that day, for crying out loud! He also rememebered when Kevin called him to warn about Gwen's accident. The teenager had taken Gwen back home, too, because both Frank and Natalie were too swamped that day. Frank had thanked Kevin later, but afterwards he kept hoping that Gwen would gain some good sense and dump the long-haired delinquent.
Just like this parents-in-law hoped once that Natalie would dump him.
He noticed that his wife was crying. Of course, she felt humiliated for being lectured by a boy... no, a young man that she and Frank had overlooked for so long. And now this young man was proving to be much more mature than the couple. However, Frank knew pretty well that, deep within, Natalie still felt she wasn' wrong.
From his spot at the control room, Kevin stared at both disdainfully. To think that he had feared them once! When he spoke again, his tone was calm and sad.
"Wanna hear the story of a true sacrifice, Mrs. Tennyson? My father died to save the Earth! He was a plumber, like us. And a two-bit criminal killed him because Dad kept this guy from sucking the energy of the Sun. My dad gave up on everything, so stuck-up people like you could keep having your 'calm, monotonous daily life'. So your beloved relatives could go to your house, to drink tea and scheme on his son. My mother still grieves his death... she, from all people in the world, has tons for reasons to not want me to become a plumber... and yet, she's always stood by me."
Natalie stormed off. Kevin turned around and walked to the entrance door, where he made a halt to look upon his shoulder.
"I'm through, Ben. Turn off the computer before you leave."
"Kevin..." Frank called him timidly.
The half-Osmosian gave him the same look he would give to a sack of rotten trash forgotten in a corner of the kitchen.
"Almost forgot; I want refunds for the gas and snacks Gwen and I had to spend with your wife's cockblockers. I'll mail you the receipt scans tomorrow, with the deadbeats' names. If someone won't pay, put it on 'Lily's' tab."
With that, he marched through the door like a king. Both uncle and nephew still heard Kevin mumbling aloud how much energy of his ship had been wasted in 'this pointless argument'. "And my children say that I'm cheap", Frank thought.
"Whew," Ben whistled with irony "He didn't even get to reload."

"I never believed in my father and Gwen, whenever they said how intelligent Kevin was... I owe them apologizes. But, if Kevin hates us so much, why did he exonerate us?" Frank asked.
"Gwen. I guess he thinks that proofing you aren't that guilty will make her feel a little better" Ben offered, since he was confused, too "But he'll never forgive any of you."

"I wouldn't, either" Frank sighed, as if he now had a heavy burden to carry "When will you come back?"

"Can't tell. It depends on how much time we'll take to find the criminals. It may take a day, or weeks." Ben answered, before making an hesitating pause. After a few seconds, he decide to ask the question that burned into his throat "Why did you say you trusted Kevin to take care of Gwen? You never made him a compliment, before."

Frank sighed again and shrugged, as if that wasn't a big deal.
"I thought that I should be fair to him, at least for once. And also, because I realized that the true reason that made me dislike him was because I'm jealous."

"Jealous?" Ben echoed in disbelief.

"Kevin has always been there for Gwen while I haven't. Including that night when you three fought your grandmother. He understands Gwen in a way that your aunt and I never will be able to... and Lily knows that." The lawyer confessed "Is it true that Kevin's father was a plumber?"
Ben opened his face in a smile.

"Devin Levin was Granpa Max's partner. Ask Granpa the details" his smile widened as he saw the shock in Frank's face, before looking serious again "You and Aunt Natalie would know that and much more about Kevin, if you weren't that worried about what people would think of you for having a son-in-law like him."
He turned the computer off.

* * *

Drying her eyes, Gwen pronounced the word that cancelled the hearing spell. Her father's confession had brought a tear to her face. And she thought that she wouldn't be able to cry again, after her emotional outburst in Kevin's arms...

Lying on the large bed of the only sleeping room in the ship, she mused about all the things she had just heard. When Kevin told her to go, all she wanted was to rest with a wet hand towl on her forehead. However, it soon became clear that she wouldn't have any rest if she didn't know what was happening in the control room, so she returned and hid behind the door with the same spell Gwen had used to learn what her mother really thought about Kevin. When he said he was leaving, she teleported herself back to the bedroom, but forgot cancelling the spell. She had no idea it worked from such a distance!

She sat on the bed, trying to deal with the turmoil of emotions whirling inside her. She felt deeply touched by her father's repentance and relieved because neither he or his mother had to do with the bullying commited by the Wilkes towards Kevin, but she was angry with their betrayal, anyway. It was really convenient that her cousin had a mission for her and Kevin right now, because it would take a long, long time until she would want to see any of her relatives again - save Ben and Granpa Max.

And Kevin, of course. No matter what others said, he was much more family for her than anyone living in her parents' home, now. He had been the only one (well, Ben, too, a little) that really cared about her feelings and needs during those last weeks. He was the only reason why she didn't feel devastated, now.

His words echoed back to her mind.

"She is a wonderful person, a fantastic sorcerer, a plumber as amazing as her grandpa and someday she'll become even more powerful than Verdona! Still, she's always felt guilty of all that stuff, because she disappointed you. .. because the only Gwen her parents love is the good as gold princess whom cared only about her studies!"

Kevin had touched the sore spot exactly where it was infected. While Gwen had always been proud of being an Anodyte, it had been hard for her parents to learn that she had it from Verdona. After her grandmother's first visit, Frank told Gwen that he wouldn't forbid her to practice magic, because that was part of her heritage. Just tried to not do it when her mother wasn't around, okay? The permission to keep working as a plumber, however, was a horse of another color. Her parents gave it unwillinly, after many pleas and negotiations from her, and under the conditions Kevin had pointed so sharply. Still, Gwen thought then that was just fair. After all, she had disapointed them with all those lies about studying late with colleagues, when in fact she was kicking DNAliens' flat butts! But, as months passed by, Gwen caught herself feeling jealous of her two plumber partners. Kevin was free to come and go as he pleased from his mother's house, in spite of his past mistakes (and some recent ones, too), and Ben had even a special license to skip school, if necessary! Not to mention that both the boys had last gen desktops and ran around in super cool cars. While Gwen had to make her researches in an ancient laptop and never had a car until college, when she bought one... of second hand. The fact that his parents could easily afford both things made that more painful; Gwen never doubted their love for her, but, honestly, sometimes she resented their old-fashioned educational concepts. She consoled herself by remembering that at least they were still proud that she was a good daughter and a high-honor student. That motivated her to work hard in all her activities, on school, at home and as a plumber. She never would let anybody down.

But was it okay if her parents let her down?

"When she broke her leg, none of you took the time to see her in the E.R.! "

"Your wife adores showing Gwen's black belt to your guests, but she never bothered to watch your daughter winning a competition!"

"She complied to all your demands because she loves you!"

She always had excused them for not having time for her, because she knew how it was to be cronically busy. She always had tolerated her mother's hatred for Anodytes and any other alien species. She always had made up for being an Anodyte and a plumber by being a perfect daughter. It wasn't enough. Now that she was a grown-up, they also wanted her to give up on everything she loved to embrace the old plans traced for her when she was a kid. A PhD at Ivy League and a career in a laboratory or university. A life she no longer fitted in, just like her childhood clothes. No more adventures. A common husband, who'd get a job in his family's company promised before graduation. From a traditional family, so Grandma Grace would be pleased. This man never would understand her, like Kevin did... she'd would have to hide her powers from him. And, after a couple of years, he would start coming back home late, with lipsticks stains all over and lying that he had been stuck in a reunion... And her mother had the nerve to accuse Ben of ruining her life!

Kevin interrupted her bitter thoughts. Not by saying something or breezing in, but by his mana signature. It was getting closer and closer. Gwen quickly layed again and covered her face with the wet towel. A few instants later, the smooth humming of the door opening announced his fiancée's entrance. Having his mana so close to her was like feeling a warm breeze pushing her hurt feelings away; Gwen felt suddenly more relaxed. She wanted so much to talk to him, to hug him tightly and make love. She wanted... what in the world was he doing?

She felt a weigh sinking the side of the bed, followed by the rumbling sound of what seemed two rocks kicking on the floor. Probably Kevin's boots. The weight lifted up. A few seconds later, Gwen heard the sound of water running, signaling that Kevin was in the bathroom now. It was so small that you gave two steps back and stood in front of the bed. Still, Kevin was as proud of that small improvement as a kid of his freshly build-toy. "The shower's big enough for two" he said, with a lustful wink. Gwen pulled the towel off her face and sat. He stood in front of the mirror as he shaved his face, clad only in his jeans. His loosen hair reached the middle of his back, but it didn't hide completely his powerful muscles. Seeing him busy with such an ordinary task filled Gwen with nostalgy. It brought her back to the many moments of intimacy that she and Kevin shared throughout the years, between studying and work. Kevin finished shaving and stared at his face in the mirror, caressing his now smooth chin. At a sudden, he touched the ace frame of the mirror. His hand turned into a big pair of scissors.

"No!" Gwen sprang to her feet and held out a hand to stop him.

Kevin startled and spun around, at the same time his hand turned back to normal.

"You pretended you were sleeping?" he asked, in shock and some slight annoyance.
Gwen fidgeted sheepishly.

"Sorry. I just thought you needed some space. But don't do this to your hair, please! If my mom said something..."

He stared at her for a few seconds, before smiling reassuringly.

"She could call me 'Rapunzel' and I wouldn't care less. Besides, cropping my hair wouldn't give me any points with old Grace."

"I don't mean you were trying to please them. It's just that... I thought Mom should have told you something that made you so upset at the point of taking it on your hair."
He kept smiling.

"Relax. Just gonna give it a trim. I'm sick of tying my hair to not look like Samara Morgan."

Gwen smiled back, realizing that his funless jokes were a try to spirit her up.

"Rapunzel, Samara... there are movies with long-haired men, too, Aragorn. I can do that for you, if you like. Do you have a pair of scissors?"

He had. However, there wasn't any stool or place for him to sit, besides the bed, so he stood in front of the mirror again. Gwen created a mana step, so she could float slightly above his shoulders.

"How much did you hear?" he asked bluntly.

Gwen almost fell down.

"How do you know that?" she asked before thinking.

"I know it now" Kevin gibbered, happy because she had fallen so easy in his trick. Gwen fought against her will to slap him hard.

"You expected me to eavesdrop?" she snapped, holding the scissors tight, but almost immediately she scolded herself. If Kevin thought she was nosy, she hadn't the right to be angry at him.

"Once you taste the pleasure of breaking rules, you'll always feel like doing it again. It itches." Kevin philosophed, looking serious now "Besides, your voice trembled and your eyes looked away when you asked what your mother said. You're not used to lie."

"I got there a seconds before you called Mom a bitch" Gwen confessed, feeling as 10 years old girl caught in a prank.

Kevin shivered at the bad memory.

"Sorry..." he started, but Gwen cut him off.
"Never mind. If more people insulted my mother, maybe she would chose her words more carefully."

Her bitter tone hurt Kevin more than if she had scolded him. She should be pretty bad hurt because of Natalie's horrible phrase 'She doesn't look like my daughter!' Kevin know how he would feel if his mother said that; for years, he had been convinced that she thought like this. However, the sweet Mrs. Levin had proofed over and over she never had rejected him, even when Kevin was turned into a hideous mixture of wood, metal and stone. While that petty old vixen didn't value her wonderful daughter... 'Gwen's putting a brave face, as always... and I just made things worse." Save by a few instructions he gave to her, the only sound heard during the rest of the haircut was the metallic snipping of the scissors. Kevin's massive shoulders looked sculpted into stone. He felt the cut hair falling into his pants and itching him, but didn't complain, his eyes avoiding hers in the mirror. At his request, Gwen cut his hair in the old mullet Kevin used most part of his life.
"Here you go!" she exclaimed, in a forced cheerful tone "You're looking six years younger. Do you want me to pick up your hair, so you can sell it to a beauty parlor? It's a little greasy, but some salons would pay well for it."

"Thanks, but no. Just put it in the trash" Kevin rejected the offer, as he brushed pieces of hair off his torso.

Gwen couldn't stand it anymore.

"Kevin..." she started.

He looked away and tensed his shoulders, as if he expected to be slapped.

"Please, don't be mad at me" she begged.

Kevin's eyes bulged out.

"What?"

It was Gwen's turn to be shocked.

"You're not mad because I eavesdropped?" she asked in disbelief.

"No! I thought that you were mad at me because I insulted your mother. But, when she started screeching all that bullshit at us, I... I just couldn't hold back!" he reached out and held her shoulders "She wasn't serious when she said you didn't look like his daughter whenever you use your powers! She just said that because she's afraid of losing you! I know that, because I feel the same the whole time!" he confessed.
Gwen could only gape at him.

"Kevin, you... After all my parents did, all the things my mother have done to separate us, you forgave them? Is that why you defended them from Ben's accusations?"

"Of course I didn't forgive them!" he protested "Who do you think I am, Saint Kevin? I just don't want you to cut all the ties with your family because of me."

He sat, or rather, he sunk his weight on the bed.

"When I was a kid, I ran from my mother and my stepfather because I thought they hated me... eletricity fried my brains, y'know. Do you have idea of how is to wander around for years? Nobody you can rely on, no roots anywhere? I couldn't believe when my mom ran after me and begged that I went back to her... and, though I said yes, we took a lot to get along again. I don't want that for you, Gwen! You would regret later, and end up resenting me for that!"

SMACK!

Gwen's kiss on his cheek would have swooped Kevin off his feet if she wasn't hugging him.

"How can someone be so wise and so fool at the same time?" she asked retorically.

"I beg your pardon?" Kevin asked as his rubbed his cheek, uncertain if he should feel happy or insulted.

The young Anodyte sat besides him. She suddenly felt lighter, her spirits up, but tried to look serious.

"An old Earth proverb says that you can't choose your family. Like Argit, right? He's a petty, treacherous alien rat, but still, he was the only family you had until you made amends with your mother."

"Cut to the chase." Kevin complained, feeling embarassed because it was all true "What has that to do with..."

"Both you and my mother are afraid that my family will ocstracize me if I'll marry you. You both think that family is family, even when it tries to control your life... but there's the "family" " Gwen waved her fingers imitating inverted commas ", like the Wilkes side, and the family that really matters. Your mother, your stepfather, Ben, Granpa Max, Uncle Carl and Aunt Sandra; all of them are with us. And Ken – you were serious when you said he defended you, or were you just trying to comfort me?"

"I said the truth" Kevin confirmed half-heartedly, because he was trying to process the things Gwen said. It never had ocurred him, but it made a lot of sense.

"So he counts. And Grandma Verdona, too " Gwen added "I won't say she's your fan, but she thinks you're perfect for me. Before we came back to Bellwood, I told her that we were going to marry (couldn't tell you later, sorry), and she was happy for me. She confessed that the main reason she allowed me to stay on Earth was because, when you tried to save me from her, Grandma remembered when Granpa Max saved her, back when they met."

Kevin's mouth curved in a slight smile. For him, to be compared to Max Tennyson was a big honor. But soon, his spirits fell again.

"Your parents never will let me in, again," he reminded her.

"My mother won't. But my father will."

Her mention of Frank sent Kevin back to his feet.

"He was licking my butt, so I would convince you to talk to him!" he burst out, unable to hide how hurt he still felt with that. He was still angry at Gwen's parents, no doubt about it; still, he wanted her to make amends with them. She couldn't tell if that was cute or hypocritical.
"Dad never licks anybody's butt!" Gwen replied as she stood up, too "Didn't Ben tell you what Dad said to him, after you left?"

Kevin looked away as sheepishly scratched the back of his head.

"I... I hid in the bushes out there, until I heard his car going. Didn't want him trying to cheer me up."

Gwen nodded understandingly. As much as they loved Ben, her cousin could be really annoying with his good intentions.

"I don't wish that to anyone, even Darkstar. But this time, it would have worthed to listen to Ben. He and my father talked a little, after you left. Daddy regrets supporting my mother, Kevin. Your lecture made him realize that he was jealous... because you always stood by me and gave me supported when he couldn't. Including that night when we fought against Grandma Verdona."

"She moped the floor with me", Kevin reminded her, but he sounded unsure.

"And Dad just watched. He was so scared that he couldn't even ask her to stop, and she is his mother! Whever he looks at you, he feels... weak" Gwen explained, unable to say 'coward' "He said he complimented you because he regrets he was unfair to you all these years. "

Intense emotions mixed themselves into Kevin's eyes as he listened. It was painful for Gwen to look, but she kept staring firmly into his eyes until she finished and her fiancée turned around, raising a hand to cover his face. "So, to be accept by my family... by my father... is that important to him?" Gwen realized. She wanted to touch his back, but she knew that, right now, Kevin was trying to get a hold of himself. He had an emotional explosion about one hour ago and was still ashamed of it. Now he preferred to than breaking down. After a few instants, the young woman heard a sob. Kevin inhaled and expired one, two times, just like she had taught him years ago. Slowly, Gwen paced towards him and held out hand, but hesitated, not wanting to be intrusive. Finally, Kevin turned around. His eyes were dry, eagerly looking for her. He opened his arms and Gwen tossed herself on him, once again. They kissed furiously, hanging onto each other with the same eagerness of someone who has just got its beloved one back from the clutches of kidnappers. In both cases, love was mixed with the unbelieving happiness of not loosing your love, plus the fear that this would really happen. Kevin buried his face on the curve of Gwen's neck, kissing until the modest of her shirt allowed him. Gwen buried her hands in his hair and felt them itching.
"You're still full of cut hair!" she noticed "Doesn't that tickle?"

"And how! My pants are itching me all over!" he agreed slily.

Kevin was not surprised at all when he felt the zipper of his pants opening and they going down, although Gwen's hands were exploring certain points much more above. But, when his underwear followed the pants, he remembered something important.

"Wait.. My silicon bar is in the bathroom cabinet."

A very hurried mana tentacle reached the object and handed it to him. Kevin laughed and pinched his own nose, parodying an advertising announcer "Levin Condons! They are more resistent, more durable and they don't have sickly perfumes. Satisfaction guaranteed or a pack of diapers."

Gwen released him and gave a few steps back to undress. A sudden idea popped into her mind, making her smirk.

"Nudus", she whispered. All her clothes fell through her body, as if she was made of air.

Kevin had just finished protecting himself when Gwen suddenly hugged his back. The bar fell from his hand. He gulped some air in shock, before relaxing to feel her soft body brushing against his, her little hands touching his nipples and sliding down on his muscles to touch his most sensitive spots.

"Oh, Gwen..." he moaned "I missed this so much..."

When she made a bolder caress, Kevin couldn't resist more. He gave a step forward to get free and turned around to stare at her. His dark eyes stared in awe at the spectacle, but Gwen suddenly felt self-counscious at the results of her forced diet.

"I feel like a plank" she complained, covering her breasts with her hands.

Kevin bent and kissed her cheek.

"The hottest plank I've ever seen. And one week eating Cassiopeia typical food will give all your poundies back and maybe a few more." he said lovingly.

His smile was so sincere, so sweet, that Gwen felt all her insecurity going away. She no longer wanted to think about anything else than her own pleasure - and Kevin's, of course.
They made love on their feet, leaning against a wall, because the bed looked too far away. It didn't last as much as they wanted, but to say that was satisfactory would be an understatement. It was intense. It was fulminant! When Gwen came back to her senses, she found herself lying on the bed. Kevin stepped out of the bathroom and stood in front of her to apreciate the stunning vision.

"What would your granny say, if she saw you lying there all naked?" he teased.

"Nothing. She would have a heart attack "Gwen answered calmly "She found all my nightgowns too short and wouldn't let me wear pajamas, because they're a 'boy thing'." She finished with a bit of annoyance.

"Even the one with kitties all over?!" Kevin raised his eyebrows."

"I had to pay Rachel a pack of cigarettes, so she would lend me one of her giant T-shirts to sleep." Gwen confirmed, wrinkling her nose "Otherwise, I would have to sleep wearing one of Grandma's flannel, foot-lenght nightgowns."

Kevin laid down besides her.

"Maybe she wanted to protect you from cracker bits" he ventured, smirking when she gave him a questioning look "Yeah, I know that your respectable granny eats crackers in bed. Your cousins made fun about how you should suffer with that. Your family has a lot of interesting secrets, if you pay enough attention." as Kevin spoke, he slowly slid a finger on her face, down to her neck and lower. Gwen enjoyed it, but the word 'secret' reminded her of an undiscussed subject.

"Kevin, I... she started in a sudden "I should have told you about Rachel's lies."

Grudgingly, Kevin looked up from her shoulder. Why did she have to think of that shit right now? He backed away and leaned his head on his left hand.

"I dunno how she figured it out " he mused "After we came back, I checked on Emily only once, at night, because her parents insisted. Some of Rachel's friends must have spotted me, then."

"Or maybe Rachel herself. I guess that she already knew it before we came back " Gwen added, thoughtfully "because in the first day, she came for me with insinuations about you two. I told her that she shouldn't spread rumors about others without evidence " her eyes glowed quickly, to enphatize how Gwen had convinced Rachel to shut up "I didn't tell you this because nobody else talked about that"

"And also, because we never had any privacy there" Kevin reminded her.

"Until Grandma accused you in the bridal shop. Rachel's will to cause trouble must have overcome her fear"

Kevin wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Leave that for tomorrow. No, leave it for next week. Your folks have been for too long between us." he said, before forcing a smile "As we're at it, I didn't tell you your cousins' scheme for tonight, either. If you hadn't that tantrum in the shop, tomorrow internet would be full of pictures of you getting a hug from a naked guy with a cop hat!"

As he expected, his fiancee hit the roof when she learned about the bachelorette party. But not for too long... after all, as Kevin wisely observed, now she was getting a hug from a naked guy, anyway... though with her consent.