Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Ben 10

Chapter 4 – Three's a Crowd

Kevin saw the two cousins inside the kitchen with Ben attending to Gwen's sprain. He was happy that it wasn't anything to worry about but he felt something in him stir as he saw them getting all to close. He knew that they were close since they started going with Grandpa Max over the summer but this was something new all together.

He shook the thought of as he didn't want to think bad of Gwen and Ben but the idea kept on poking his mind. He tried to think of something else as he approached the two and sure enough Gwen's kiss to his cheek did the job.

"Have you just arrived?" Gwen asked him as she held his hand. Kevin kneeled beside her and shook his head in reply.

"I actually just got here and then suddenly I saw Ben carrying you into the kitchen." Kevin explained.

Ben stood up and took a couple of steps away from the couple to hide the pain that was now showing in his eyes. He saw the two lively conversed, the laugh and smile that was earlier for him was now being received by someone else.

He didn't have anything against Kevin but he felt and knew that he was better for Gwen. Ben was about to walk out of the kitchen when Gwen suddenly called his name. Turning slowly to make sure that he had already composed himself , he faced them with a smile on his face.

"Thanks again Ben." Gwen told him, a pang of hurt evident in her eyes as she looked at him. Ben knew that this was because of how he was acting and because of the false smile that he showed them.

"No problem Ms. Clumsy." Ben joked and turned to leave but before he could Gwen called him once again.

"Don't think that you're getting out of the promise you made." Gwen reminded him with a smirk. Kevin was the one who reacted to this.

"What promise?" Kevin asked as he stood up and moved in front of her. Ben didn't say anything but instead waited for Gwen to tell Kevin the full details.

Gwen straightened up and started to explain to Kevin what she and Ben had agreed upon. Slowly Kevin understood the situation and thought that it's just a friendly joke/prank between the two cousin.

"Well good luck Tennyson." Kevin told Ben as he patted the other in the back. "A day with Gwen as a slave. Make sure you stretch first before you go shopping and make sure you have deep pockets." Kevin added as he laughed at the others expense.

Ben just smiled wryly at his joke, unknown to Kevin a day with Gwen for him was like a dream come true. He didn't care if he had to carry a lot because training for the soccer team really help his body and if they were talking about spending he had a lot saved because he mostly just buy smoothes and nothing else.

Gwen smiled as she heard all of his thoughts. She didn't really thought about shopping much just things she needed and he didn't need to pay for anything actually because she preferred to pay on her own.

Their pondering was interrupted as the two pair of parents entered the kitchen holding a birthday cake singing happy birthday as they approached Gwen. The day went on everyone enjoying the celebration and Kevin not being the wiser as the two cousins stole glances at each other from time to time.

The next day Ben was still sleeping on his bed when something shook it. He didn't open his eyes but instead he just grabbed a pillow and covered his face.

Gwen thought the he was still deep in sleep as he just simply shrugged all of her attempts to wake him up. She felt a little brave about the situation so since he was still deep in sleep she moved the bed sheet covering him and slowly slid herself beside him resting her head in his arm.

It was a very comfortable spot for her as she rested her back in his strong chest. She felt his warmth envelop her while his manly scent intoxicated her.

Ben couldn't believe what was happening, he didn't need to open his eyes to know that it was Gwen beside him for the perfume she wore was enough for him to confirm it was her. He couldn't understand why she laid there beside him but he didn't want to move as he was enjoying his time with her beside him.

They would've stayed like that for a little while longer but Sandra suddenly entered Ben's room. He mentally panicked as he heard her call out to them. Ben expected Gwen to hurriedly stand up but instead she just laid there comfortably pretending to have fallen asleep.

"Aw." Sandra cooed as she saw the two cousins sleeping. She slowly moved beside the bed and gently nudged the two to wake up.

"Get up you two." She told them. "Wake up or you won't have any more time to shop."

Gwen slowly stirred on his arm and she slowly sat up rubbing her eyes. She pretended that she had just woken up and acted surprise about the matter.

"Oh! I must have fallen asleep." Gwen said out loud as she faked a yawn. "Sorry Aunt Sandra, I was trying to wake up Ben but the opposite happened." Sandra just laughed in reply and then she started to tell Gwen a story when Ben was still a little kid. That was the signal for Ben to get up so he stirred and stretched yawning as he sat up beside Gwen.

"Well sleepy head finally woke up." Gwen said as she crossed her arm over her chest. Ben just smiled as he scratched his head. The two stood up and fixed themselves as Sandra left the room.

"So are you ready slave?" Gwen teased as a smirk formed on her face. Ben didn't respond, he simply moved closer to Gwen and leaned his head on her shoulder while standing. He stayed that way for a couple more seconds before he finally spoke.

"Can you give me five more minutes." Ben told her in a sleepy voice. He was gesturing to hug her when she just simply brushed his arms and moved a couple of steps away from him.

"No Ben" Gwen told him but immediately regretted it because she saw that Ben looked hurt as he took it the wrong way. She immediately closed the distance between them and held his hand.

"Come on you need to take a bath. I can't have you smelling that way on our date." Gwen was surprised that the word date slipped out of her lips. To avoid any more discussion about it she immediately pushed him inside the bathroom and ordered him to quickly take a bath.

The sound of water rustling told her that he was already starting his bath. While waiting she just sat at his bed and looked at the photos at his bedside drawer. It was furnished with photos of the family, one for his parents, one with Grandpa Max and three photos of her with him during their summer vacations. She was surprised that he had those many pictures of them on display but she just reasoned with herself that each photo presented a different time for them.

True to his word, Ben came out of the bathroom only after a couple of minutes. He was still drenching as he walked out with only a towel covering his lower body. He almost did a double back when he saw her still inside the room.

"Your still here?" Ben said as he tried to cover his chest with his arms. This just earned a raised eyebrow from Gwen.

"Honestly Ben it's not like I haven't seen you like that." She told him in a matter-of-fact tone but deep inside she was admiring how his body was sculpture like. It wasn't bulky but had a very firm tone which she liked in a guy.

"Uhm, can you please go outside and wait." Ben pleaded her. Gwen just sat straight and looked at him sternly.

"Aren't you forgetting who's the boss here today?" Gwen asked with an eyebrow raised. Ben was at a loss for words when she wouldn't budge. He moved closer to her and knelt in front of her as she sat in the bed.

"Can you please go outside while I dress up Princess?" Ben asked her while he held both her hands. Gwen blushed at the endearment he used, to avoid him seeing her blush she quickly stood up and walked towards the door but before going outside the room she called back out to him.

"Don't take too much time ok?" Gwen told him as she finally exited his room.

Ben was left alone in his room as he started to quickly dress up for their "Date". He couldn't help but smile at how things had gone and if things stayed the same or got better later it would be the most unforgettable moment for him.

Meanwhile outside Gwen received a call from Kevin checking up on how she was.

"I'm all good here. I'm just waiting on Ben and then we'll be heading out for the mall." Gwen told him in an excited voice. Kevin was going to say something else but he heard Ben call out to Gwen.

"Come on Princess!" Ben shouted to her. "So many things to do so little time."

Gwen happily acknowledge his call and then she went back to Kevin telling him that they were already going. She bid him goodbye and then ended the call. Unknown to her Kevin heard the endearment that Ben called her and it caused some disturbing thoughts in the young man's mind.

Slowly a plan hatched in his head and made him decide to follow a certain pair towards the mall.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay in the post guys..

I had a couple of problems with my muse jumping from one story to another but it's all taken care of now..

Hope you liked this chapter and again thanks for the support!