She had spent the night over at the Plumber's headquarter's. Sitting at her desk as the doctor attended to her. She hadn't received anything too bad from her cousin, just a bunch of swelling and massive bruising around her hip, not to mention a blackened eye and a second degree burn covering part of her neck and shoulder.

"You two have done a number on each other" The doctor stated taking her hand in his gently and pressing against her cut knuckles to see if she had any damage.

'What do you know? More swelling!" He sighed, wrapping her knuckles up in gauze cloth. He smiled as he watched her flip open her laptop.

"Think the burns more painful to be honest"

"Not deep enough to cut off the nerve endings and it hasn't caused any real damage"

She frowned as she thought about the pain she had suffered from her cousin. The fight in the park. How she had been tortured just for him to teach her a lesson. Guess he won, guess he got her.

"Miss Tennyson!" She turned to see the doctor with a thermonmeter in his hands. She sighed, gently taking it and placing it in her mouth under her tongue as she waited a minute. She was freezing cold after having a fight with her cousin. She assumed that was the reason she was shaking but other then that she felt okay. I mean physically okay. She had had to deal with a lot of stress over the last couple of weeks; not to mention finishing high school a year earlier than her cousin. She was smart; he was sort of smart. His grades never reflected it but Ben was always more practically smart compared to her.

"38.4 degrees. You got a fever" He commented.

She gritted her teeth, annoyed.

"Great" She mumbled, flicking open her facebook.

"You'll be fine, a couple days of rest will do you good" The doctor stated packing his medical kit up.

"I guess,"

She turned watching him pack up. He turned back to her, smiling lightly towards her.

"I betta go see your cousin. Make sure you get some rest and take some pain killers" He waved her off before stepping out the room.

Gwen nodded, waving goodbye to him before she turned to her computer bringing up Kevin's profile. He hadn't changed his name on it. She thought it was weird that he didn't bother to change it but his profile picture was literally his car.

'Kev'

He answered back straight away.

'Hey Gwen, what's up?'

'Need to talk to you. Cousin and I got into a fight and now Grandpa's sending me to Antodyne next week for good'

She waited for him to reply holding her breathe and attempting to not to cry.

'...So you're leaving?'

She was startled.

'Yeah!'

'...Where are you?'

'Plumber's base'

She looked up to her cousin's desk, just opposite hers filled with files upon files of work all unsorted. Unlike hers, her desk was imaculate. Nothing but a few piles of files and her laptop with a blank piece of paper in front of it.

'...Got time to meet later. Round mine. With your stuff'

She rolled her eyes.

'Kevin, I can't just run to yours; my grandma's coming over next week. She can just click her fingers and I'd be gone in a flash'

'Don't you have a spell for that or something'

'I can cut my energy signature off but that means cutting my powers'

'...Come round mine. We'll speak about it. Bring anything you can't live without'

She arched her eyebrow.

'I'll grab my magic books and some of my Plumber's gear' She stood up, wincing her eyes as she held onto the side of her hip. She groaned, attempting to take a step.

'Shit' She thought sitting back down. She could barely move.

Quietly, she stood up, holding onto the side of her desk as she moved over to the couch just to the right of her to collect her bag. She groaned as she picked it up, placing it over her right shoulder before she grabbed some paperwork off her desk and shoved it into her bag.

"Okay," She looked towards the door just as it opened.

"Gwen?" Ben arched his eyebrow, catching the girl in the act. He seemed suspicious as he closed the door behind him.

"What are you doing?" He asked, smoothie in one hand ice-pack in the other.

She gulped not knowing when to answer him.

"What are you doing?" He took a step forward. She took a step back, tears flustering in her vision.

"I-I'm leaving" She answered bluntly.

He arched his eyebrow taking another step forward. She took another step back, legs bashing against the side of desk.

"Where?"

"I'm leaving...with Kevin. We're going-"

"Kevin!" He gritted his teeth about to rip her head off.

"You can't stop-" He grabbed her shirt lifting her up, her bag immediately dropping from her shoulder.

"Let go Ben" She smacked his hands but he didn't back down.

"I'm sick of this. You're not going anywhere. Do you hear me?" She pushed him off, punching him in the face before she moved over to the door.

It was the last time she was going to put up with him. With his shit.

Ben wiped his lip before glimpsing at his cousin. He wasn't going to let her leave, especially with him.

"You aren't leaving" He slammed his Ultimatrix down turning into Four-arms before grabbing her by the back of the collar flinging her onto the couch. She winced moving off the soft landing and rolling onto the ground and picking herself slowly onto her knees. He kicked her in the stomach, forcing her into the air before she collapsed onto the ground breathing out and wincing in pain.

"I'm...not going to fight you, Ben. Not anymore" She grimaced as she sat up back against the aluminium cabinet. She growled at her before staring down at her leg. Her eyes widened as she grabbed her stomach and attempted to shuffle her foot towards her body but Ben grabbed it holding it down tight in his grasp.

Her eyes lit up with power as her hand came up to his face threatening to burn it.

"Ben. Don't-" He smashed his arm into her leg. She screamed in agony, an ear-piercing wail as tears spilled down her face. She heard the crack of the bones in her leg, severe as they had done in her previous injury. She couldn't believe what he had done. She felt like she was going into shock. Ben's eyes widened as watched her face turn red in agony. She squirmed in his grasp attempting to escape. He looked around for something to settle her. Something. Anything.

"Be quiet Gwen," He told her.

"You're going to alert someone" He held her mouth tightly, covering her nose. Hoping she would at least attempt to conserve some oxygen. Instead she struggled more. He quickly moved his hand away letting her grasp some air.

Four-arms eyes quickly widened, grabbing the girls head and covering her mouth as to not alert anyone to the bickering Tennyson's. She smacked him with her hands trying to force him off of her to scream for help. Anyone. Anyone that could help her. Instead, he pushed her, shoving her head into the side of the aluminum cabinet, ceasing any thought she had in her mind. She relaxed in his arms after the sickening thud. He stared at the crows feet under her eyes, and the blood running down off the side of her forehead. Ben stared down at her, holding her close as he freaked out internally. He kissed her forehead wondering what to do about her.

Gwen opened her eyes to find herself in her room. Not just any room but her old one. A midst of red and mahogany brown. She raised her head feeling pain flood through the back of her skull. She seethed through her teeth balling her fingers into fists as she sat up.

Where was she?

She took a step towards the closed door opening it before making her way down stairs. She could hear the sounds of two people chattering happily. She knew the voices. She remembered the names.

"...A get together would be great. We'll have Saundra and my brother over and we'll celebrate"

Gwen's eyes widened as she turned to see her parents on the couch holding each other closely. They were smiling and happy for a change. She was shocked.

She didn't know what to do. They had left her when she was so young that she barely recognised them and yet there they were. Right in front of her. Tears cascaded down her face as she sat down on the bottom of the stair step and watched them.

She watched as they turned their heads noticing her. A look of concern and stun brokered on their faces. She gasped in horror, tears streaking down her face as she stared at them.

"Gwenny?" Her mother stood up off the couch and walked over to the girl taking her hand. The young redhead didn't argue, allowing the woman to take her over to the couch opposite her dad and sit-down.

"Gwen, what are you doing home so early. You're suppose to be at school"

"School?" She stared at them like they were insane. 'Was she dead?' She had to be dead. This was almost a nightmare but a good one.

"...Um, no" She answered back staring at her father who had a look of concern apparent on his face.

Her mother brushed a lock of hair behind the girls ear before she stared at the youth.

"Gwenny, you look stressed. Is something wrong?" She asked as she girl winced. She felt her forehead, feeling a bruise on her head.

"Ow" She muttered before she stared over to her father.

"Do you want a drink or something to eat?" She asked. She shook her head, continuing to stare at her dad. He quietly stood up and sat next to her bringing her in for a cuddle. She hesitated at first but relaxed in his grasp as he pulled her into her and rested her head on his chest.

"I think she's got a fever Lily" He stated as she held the girl close.

She rubbed the girls shoulder before standing up and staring at her.

"Too many nights out with your cousin and boyfriend" She chuckled, walking off.

"Boyfriend?" She arched her eyebrow before she slipped her shoes off and placed her feet on the couch. She hissed feeling pain going through her leg.

"Ah" She hissed. He stared down at her, grabbing a pillow and placing it on his lap before helping her lay down.

"You sound like you're in pain? What happened? Fighting too many aliens?" He chuckled resting his arm around her waist and holding her.

She brought a hand up to the side of her head trying to remember.

"I don't remember..." She stared at the roof in shock.

"I don't remember what happened!" She muttered staring at her dad beginning to freak out. She sat up holding her head.

"Where...Where am I?" She asked him. He stared at her in shock.

"You're home" He smiled at her. She shook her head.

"No," She stood up but pain flooded through her leg as she backed away from him.

"You and mum are dead"

His face turned to horror as she backed away.

"You died. I saw you; I..."

"Gwendolyn, that's a horrible thing to say" He stood up, a look of anger apparent on his scowl. Lily walked back into the room to see the scene.

"You died" She pointed at her mother.

"Frank, what's going on"

"I think Gwen has a concussion" He stated walking over to her. She stumbled back careful not to fall over.

"I don't you're dead. I know you're dead because...because..." Her eyes began to water. She gulped backing away.

"Gwen that's a horrible thing to say to your parents"

"Go sit down Gwen or you'll be grounded" Frank pointed to the couch his face going to concerned to angry. Lily immediately grabbed him as he took a step forward stopping him.

"Frank, you promised" She whispered into his ear as the girl stood in shock.

"No more abusive behaviour" She muttered. Gwen's eyes lit up as she backed away. He sighed and walked over to his daughter taking her hand gently without asking and guiding her over to the couch before sitting her down and forcing her to lay down.

"She's in shock again" He mumbled to his wife.

"We don't have to call the counsellor for her again do we?" He placed her legs on the couch without asking before stacking three pillows under her feet and wrapping a blanket over her body. She stared towards her mother worried.

"I'm not in shock" She stated trying to get up but they forced her back down.

"Just relax, Gwen. We'll get a doctor to have a look at your injuries and then get a look at your counsellor round, okay?" Lily sat next to her and took the girls arm.

"We have to stop this Plumber fad. She's going to get killed" Frank whispered, lifting the girl'd head up without her permission and bringing a glass of water down to her lips. She sipped it quietly, listening to her folks bicker.

"Well what do you expect me to do, she's got more of your genes"

He rolled his eyes, lifting the girls eyes up a little more, forcing her to drink the water more.

"Gwen, you need to stop this hero stuff. It's ruining you" He stared down at her with an annoyed look. She didn't know how to respond to him, at least not with him forcing water down her throat.

Lily sighed sitting down next to her and held her hand. The young redhead grabbed the glass from her father before sculling the rest herself and placing it down on the coffee table and looking at her mothers hand intertwined with hers. She smiled at her mother, feeling her touch on her skin.

Her mother looked at her worried as she felt the tightness of her daughters grasp.

"Is something wrong, Gwen. You've got a strong grip" She commented. Tears poured down the girls face as she stared at her mother.

"I'm...I'm just glad you're here" She smiled, pulling her mothers arm close to her heart as she relaxed on the couch.

"Oh Sweetheart. You know we're always here for you" Lily smiled warmly towards her before looking up to her husband edging him on. He took the hint and smiled as well.

"I know things were ruff in the past" He stroked her forehead.

"-and I know I wasn't the greatest father to you and Ken but I'm trying...We're all trying" He brushed her cheek before walking over to the phone.

"So, celebrations? Do you want to invite Ben and Kevin over. Or Emily or Julie. I know you don't have your friends over that often but you know, maybe tonight would be good" He passed her the phone which she took happily.

"Sure," She smiled at him before staring down at it and up towards them.

"Something wrong?" Lily asked her with concern glowing in her blue eyes. Gwen stared at her recultant to say anything at all. She just wanted to hold her, even if it was for 5minutes.

"No," She shrugged staring into her mothers ocean blue eyes.

"I...just...Your hands are softer than what I remember"

Her mother smiled concerningly before looking over to her husband.

"I think you hit your head pretty badly, kiddo" He rubbed her forehead attempting to locate some of the bruising but he couldn't see anything. Same as her leg. They appeared normal. He brushed her cheek before moving off dialing the phone for her friends and family to come over.

"So," Gwen stared at her mother.

"What are we celebrating?"

"Gwen? Gwen? Come on; wake up" Ben shook her shoulders as she laid on the couch, body limp, eyes closed as he proped her feet up with pillows. He had understood her not coming around for the a few minutes. Usually 5 but she wasn't out cold for longer than that. He was getting slightly worried about her. Her demeanor...she was so calm, only the slight winces of pain alerted him that she wasn't dead right now.

Luckily

He was cursing himself for hitting her too hard. He swore it was just a tap but it was with Four-arms and now he regretted it.

Sweat was leaking down her forehead, a likely sign from breaking her leg.

He remembered when she used to lay on the couch, sleeping and resting off her injuries. How well they had gotten along then. They were beginning to get along until his worst nightmare decided to crash the party and turn her against him. Then they began to hate each other again.

Yet, in the time she had stayed on the couch, they were besties and it wasn't something he was quiet willing to give up. At least not yet. Not now anyway. He gently removed her stockings and looked at the large bump on the side of her leg and the massive amount of bruising on the side of her ankle. They were massive.

"Shit!" Ben breathed out as he grabbed his coat off the side and flung it around her body before looking around for a stick or something to tie to her leg.

How long had she been out for? He couldn't remember. He should have monitored her better. He swore it was nothing over 20minutes.

Was that enough time to cause permanent brain damage. He assumed so but it didn't really matter right now. Especially when her skin was about to get ripped off her body in less than a week. His grandmother had described the process countless times to him. The gore of it seemed unreal but she was convinced she wouldn't feel a thing. Her human body would be subdued, paralysed and numb during the process as she wrapped a cacoon of manna around the girl burning off her flesh and leaving the purity of the girl in sight. A subdormant Antodytes body in its place. Ben cringed at the thought, not yet ready to have his cousin ripped from him. He had everything else - most of which was her fault. But maybe that was the point. Get rid of her and she won't cause anymore harm to their family.

Or cling onto her like the desperate man he was.

He loved her too much to the point where he would rather see her stay with him until he dies, then she can leave and do whatever she wants.

What was the saying - if you love something; let it go.

Well, he could sure as hell tell you that was bullshit.

They were each others burden and he was sure as hell not letting her out of the deal that quickly.

"That's it Gwen," He stood up walking over to the water dispenser and taking a cup of water before dumping it on her head.

Nothing happened.

He tried again with two waters. She winced choking a little before sercumbing to her much needed rest. He gritted his teeth before grabbed the whole tank and walking over to her.

"You asked for it"

Gwen spluttered her drink at the table, choking from the glass of water she had just injested.

"Gwenny are you, okay?" She felt her mothers arm come down on hers and hold her tightly. The young redhead nodding, coughing into her napkin as she sat at the head of the table, opposite her father and adjacent to her mother and brother.

"I'm fine," She croaked as she took another gulp of water.

"Just went down the wrong hole, is all" She smiled happily towards her mother before hearing a knock at the door.

She smiled as she was about to stand up before a hand held her shoulder.

"I'll grab it Red," Her brother smiled at her, hand placed on her shoulder.

She had never seen her brother smile that fondly to her before.

She had grown up in a house-hold that was constantly racked with fear. Her brother was lucky enough to have left home and moved to college when he was 17 but she, no she had to stay and finish highschool. Not that it mattered anymore.

After the accident her brother had rarely spoken to her. He wasn't upset over dad as they had constant confrontations with one another. But Mum. He would've killed her right then and there for what she had done. If it wasn't for the fact that she was his sister, she wouldn't have expected anything less than for him to do it.

"Thanks Ken" She smiled back, wiping her lips on her napkin and placing it down on her yellow summer dress. Her mother had asked her to wear it and Gwen wasn't in the mood to argue with either parent. Well, not until her cousin had come in with a goofy smile plastered on his face as he held Julie's hand and walked in. She smiled warmly at the redheaded Antodyte before noticing a certain black haired man with a frown apparent on his face. Her eyes lit up in amazement.

"Sorry, we would have gotten here sooner if it weren't for Tennyson's constant Smoothie stops" Kevin itched the back of his neck before addressing her father.

"Hey Mr. T" He smiled awkwardly before walking over to her, something obvious he was hiding behind his back.

"Hey Gwen"

She blushed just from hearing her name.

"Hey yourself" She mentally cringed at her comment, hoping she could still pull off a cool look.

He snickered.

She blushed, failing.

"I got you something" He removed the present from behind his back and passed her it.

A yellow rose?

How did he know.

She had never mentioned it before.

"Thank you Kevin, it's beautiful" She stared at him, feeling awkward from her cousin and whole family being there. He noticed her hesitation before he bent down to kiss her on her cheek.

She blushed madly before he took a seat next to her and held her hand. She looked over to her cousin, noticing the 'get a room' look apparent on his face.

Funny. He had only really pulled it a couple times on her in the past when she was with the blonde haired man.

She arched her eyebrow at her cousin. He pulled the same one back.

"What?" He asked staring back at her.

"...You guys aren't fighting?" She asked staring back at her boyfriend who was also just as confused.

"No! Should we?" He asked her.

She looked over to her cousin. She winced, holding her side.

"You guys are cool?"

Both nodded, wondering what the hell she was smoking.

"I'm sorry" Her mother interrupted, placing a plate down in front of her brother before looking over to the guests.

"Gwenny's got into a fight earlier. She had a concussion but didn't want to see a doctor" She whispered the last part so everyone could hear it, including her daughter. Earning a complaint from the girl.

"Fight?" Ben asked curiously.

Gwen flicked her fork in her hands trying to think of a good excuse. But none she could come up with. Not that she could remember what had happened in the first place.

"Fight in the park...with Zombozo. He sprang out at me as I was walking home from school" She lied as her mother set down a plate of food.

"Why didn't you call us?" Kevin asked a look of concern plastered on his face.

She shrugged.

"It's Zombozo. He's not really much of a threat" She conceded before staring down at the food on her plate. Stir-fry.

Her favourite.

"You should've called for back-up. Something could have happened; something did happen!" Ben stared at her but she shrugged off his comment.

"What's done is done now can we please eat. I'm starving" Her eyebrows furrowed at her cousin. He looked hurt, wondering why he was so snappy with her. It wasn't like her. Well, not usually. She was usually pretty calm and collected. Tonight.

Tonight she was just weird.

"Fine" He decided to shove off her comment earning a gentle arm rub from Julie.

"It's your cousin's night" She muttered in his ear. Everyone continued but she heard it.

What was so special about tonight? She felt sick.

It didn't make sense!

"Well, now that everyone's here we can finally eat" Her father smiled at her as she looked around the room to find all eyes on her.

She gulped.

"Come on, Gwen"

He had dumped her body in the shower switching on the taps and splashing water onto her body. Nothing helped.

Was she even breathing?

He set the taps on full blast before jumping into the bath as well and grabbing her sweater, throwing it off before removing her shirt attempting to make sure she had the capacity to breathe without anything getting in the way. But his eyes drifted. He noticed certain bruises in particular areas where they shouldn't have been bruises. He noticed them too well. It was the same type of bruises when he had decided for him and Julie to explore their relationship a little further. He gritted his teeth in anger wanting to scream his lungs out.

He should've broken both her legs.

He forced her out of the bathtub and onto the floor mat before wrapping his fingers around her leg.

"Sorry Gwen" He muttered as he squeezed the bump as tightly as he could. He watched his cousins face went from calm and content to ravaged with pain and agony.

"Wake up" He yelled at her.

Yes, sorry new chapter. I know it took forever but it 4500 words so i hope it was worth the wait.

Yeah, Gwen's living her fantasy. Is it real or not? Have a guess.

And Ben's gone nuts and is close to the point of killing Kevin.