Author's Note:

Hi guys, this note is really more of a notice and not something about the story. I just wanted to let the people following the story know that I'm having problems with my PC so it might take a while before I can post another chapter after this one. I hope this doesn't change the support your showing the story and I promise to try to fix things as fast as possible on my end (I hope within a week or two). Well enough excuses, Happy reading guys!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Ben 10

Chapter 5 – Mental Struggles

The two arrived at Bellwood Mall a couple of hours after leaving Ben's house. Gwen hooking her arm in his, walked happily by his side as they entered the mall. Ben wasn't any different as he couldn't remove the smile that had been plastered on his face ever since they left his house, because for him this was a dream come true.

Looking around Ben saw that it was just a normal Sunday morning as everyone were busy going about their business in the mall. People did their shopping, teenagers hung out at the arcade and some families just busied themselves roaming around the mall.

Gwen saw that he was taking a look at their surrounding and decided to joke about their situation.

"So, do you think that you're ready for this?" Gwen asked as a playful smile spread across her beautiful face. Ben just shook his head and decided to answer her playful smile with one of his own.

"I think I'll live." He joked, earning him a playful punch in the arm.

Gwen pulled him on as she started to browse the windows of the shops that she was interested in. Each window had different items and Ben noticed that they had different styles. He knew that it was good to have a wide array of clothes but this was getting ridiculous. Some of the clothes he was seeing her look at weren't even her style.

Unknown to him, she was actually reading his mind as they passed each store. Gwen wanted to look good for Ben for reasons she wasn't even sure of herself. All she knew was that she wanted to look good for him so she thought best that he decide what she was to wear.

The two continued to walk until they reached a store that housed clothing that were lively colored and risqué. Gwen saw the sparkle in his eyes as they walked by a dress that was knee length long with an exposed back and revealed an ample amount of cleavage.

Gwen agreed with his choice, it was indeed pretty enough to wear and the style was risqué but tastefully done so that the wearer wasn't exposing too much but only showed enough. Not giving away anything about her advantage over him, Gwen reached for the dress and showed it to him.

"I think this is pretty." Gwen said as she showed him the dress. Ben's jaw almost dropped as Gwen placed the dress in front of her giving him a preview. He could only gulp and nod in reply.

"Gwen 1, Ben 0." Gwen thought to herself as she mentally tagged a point under her name.

"Yeah, I think it's pretty." Ben answered her after a couple of seconds of silence.

Gwen hummed as she carried the item with her towards the dressing room. She hung the dress on the hook on the wall as she started to undress herself. She could hear the sound of the chair creaking outside the dressing room as Ben waited for her to finish.

She couldn't help but smile as she could hear him mentally struggle with himself not to peek at her as she was dressing. Gwen was happy that even though Ben felt a strong urge to look he was still a gentleman and he simply contented himself to sit there mentally scolding himself for even having such an urge.

A playful smile spread across her face as she thought of something to give him as a reward for being a good boy. She quickly finished dressing up and once she was done she poked her head outside the curtain to call him.

"Ben, I need your opinion about this." Gwen told him, making Ben's head to snap up to look at her direction.

He nervously stood up and walked over to her direction while still mentally debating about his earlier thoughts. Gwen slowly opened the curtain revealing her wearing the dress the he wanted for her.

Ben gulped as he did a once over of Gwen. He wasn't mistaken earlier that it would be beautiful on her. The fabric clung to her every curve perfectly while the color accentuated her skin and made her hair stand out more.

"So do you like it?" Gwen asked as she twirled around to give him a better view. Ben could only nod in reply as beads of sweat started to form on his forehead.

"Great. I'll go get it." She told him as she closed the curtain once again to change back to her original clothes.

Ben stood frozen on his spot as the image of her wearing the dress wouldn't leave his mind. She was really beautiful Ben thought to himself and the dress only complemented her more. After a couple of seconds Gwen walked out of the dressing room holding the dress in one hand. She was about to go to the counter to pay for it when she felt Ben's hand grip her arm.

"I'll take care of that for you." Ben offered. Gwen smiled in reply but told him that she could take care of it.

"No, I insist. I'm your date/slave for today so I should go take care of that." Ben told her as a smile formed on his face. He grabbed the dress and quickly made his way to the counter. Gwen could only smile as she saw his retreating figure.

"Always the gentleman." Gwen thought to herself. "Unlike Kevin." A voice inside her head spoke. Gwen was surprised at the thought and could not believe that she would compare Ben and Kevin. Sure she was happy with the attention that Ben was giving her but Kevin was a whole different thing.

"Liar" The voice once again spoke.

She tried to shrug off the thought but before she could continue on with her mental struggle Ben walked back with a paper bag in hand.

"For my Princess." He told her as he handed her the bag, which Gwen answered with a smile.

Ben offered her his arm and guided her out of the store. The two continued on with their shopping until they felt hunger calling out from their tummy. They both laughed as their stomach both rumbled in unison.

"Okay so I guess out next itinerary is the food court or do you have anything specific you want to eat?" Ben asked her thoughtfully. Gwen smiled at his concern but simply shook her head in response.

Ben brought her to a small Italian restaurant in the mall and asked for a table for them. Gwen was happy that he thought of this restaurant as she had really wanted to try the food here. She tried to talk Kevin into going with her but all she got out of him were promises that were soon enough forgotten after he said them.

"I learned from Kevin that you wanted to try this place out but I never really heard you two going so I thought it be best that we ate here instead." Ben explained to her as they took their seat. There was a moment of silence between them until the waiter appeared beside them with the menu.

The two ordered their menu and thanked the waiter as he left. Gwen couldn't sit still as she could hear Ben mentally take note of her as he sat from across the table. Ben however noticed that Gwen continued to fidget in her seat.

"Is something wrong? Are you felling cold?" Ben asked her as he stood up to move beside her. Before she could speak though, Ben had already taken off his jacket and gently placed it on her. Gwen accidentally brushed his hand as she tried to stop him but quickly retracted it as the contact sent a jolt of electricity though her body.

"Thanks" Was all she could utter as the gesture caught her off guard. He simply smiled and moved back to his seat.

"So are you enjoying your day so far?" Ben asked her. "Or do I have to redo this tomorrow to make up for any mistakes today?" He added hoping that she would say that she wished it happened again tomorrow.

"I'll think about it." Was her only reply. Ben could see that Gwen was really having a good time but there was something in the air that didn't seem right. She would be enjoying herself one minute and then the rest she would seem distant.

"Gwen, did I do something wrong?" Ben asked her, his eyes looking at hers asking for an answer. Gwen's heart sank as she saw the sadness in them, the need to be reassured that he hadn't hurt her or wrong her in anyway.

"I'm enjoying myself." She told him with a reassuring smile. Ben felt the weight of the world was lifted of his shoulders as the smile appeared on her face. Gwen was saved from any more explanation as the food arrived in the nick of time.

The two enjoyed themselves as the food was really great. Gwen was happy that Ben took her there, that when they stood up after the meal she gave him a quick peck in the cheeks as a thank you. Ben stood there for a couple of seconds saying nothing while simply holding the cheek that she kissed.

She saw how he blushed and simply smiled at his reaction. She once again hooked her arm on his and pulled him happily out of the restaurant, guiding him towards the other shops that they had yet to go to.

Unknown to the two a shadow was stealthily following their every move. Kevin couldn't believe the things that he had seen. He knew and understood the two were cousins but if he didn't know them he would mistake them for lovers.