A/N: I've reached twenty oneshots! Just 80 more and I'm done with the theme challenge. Today's oneshot is Gwevin though it's set in the future. I had multiple ideas on how to start this off, but finally settled with reducing the whole thing down to one scene. I'm not sure whether it was because I'm lazy or because I want the scene to speak for itself… Anyway, enjoy the fluffiness.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ben 10 or the quote at the beginning of this chapter. I do own this oneshot.
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"Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be."
-Robert Browning
11. Memory
"Where are we going Kevin? All the restaurants are back there." Gwendolyn asked, glancing over her shoulder at the rapidly shrinking lights of Bellwood.
"We're not going to any restaurants." Kevin replied before adding, "Or anywhere else in town."
"Then where are we going?"
A smirk slid over Kevin's face, "It's a surprise." He glanced over to enjoy the irritated look on Gwendolyn's face before turning his attention back to the road.
Gwendolyn sighed before leaning her head against the window to watch the desert scenery pass by. "You know I don't like surprises."
"Yeah." Kevin's smirk got bigger.
"So, why can't you tell me?"
Kevin considered it for a few moments before replying, "Don't feel like it."
"You think you would've gotten more mature over the years." Gwendolyn grumbled with a roll of her eyes. Meanwhile, her mind was spinning. What could Kevin have planned to do in the desert? They couldn't be going to Los Soledad, could they? It was the only place she could think of out here in the middle of nowhere.
To her surprise, they turned off the highway far too early to be going into Los Soledad. They had barely left the city behind and now they were stopping in a barren place with only a crater and a pile of metal to keep them company? What kind of surprise was this?
"Kevin, what are we doing here?" Gwendolyn crossed her arms and looked over at him.
"You don't remember?" When she shook her head, he just grinned.
"Well, let's try to jog your memory." Kevin stepped out of the car and flicked the radio on before offering a hand to Gwendolyn. "Wanna dance?" He asked, fake accent in place just to amuse her.
The memory hit her suddenly as his words sunk in and she took his hand. 7 years ago, he had said the same exact words to her here. And they had danced to the moonlight, just like they were doing now. One glance at the pile of junk was all it took to ascertain that this was the place where Big Chill had laid his eggs and they had had their substitute dance.
But why had Kevin taken her all the way out here? A thrill of excitement ran through her as she considered the possibilities.
"Do you remember now?" Kevin asked, bringing Gwendolyn out of her nostalgic thoughts into the warmth of Kevin's arms around her waist.
"We danced here." She leaned her head against his chest, not even bothering to check to see if he nodded.
As the song finished up, Gwendolyn opened her mouth to ask Kevin a question, only to be shushed by the man. She shot him a questioning glance as he kneeled down before her before realization hit her like a mallet, just as the next song started.
"Will you marry me?" Kevin opened up a box, revealing a platinum ring imbedded with diamonds.
"It's been long enough." Gwendolyn held out her hand, allowing a grinning Kevin to slide the ring on to the proper finger.
"It took a while to find the perfect ring." They both knew that it wasn't the reason he had procrastinated on asking, but it didn't really matter anymore. He kissed her.
When he pulled away, Gwendolyn just took in their surroundings. The lilting melody of the song was playing its last few notes, the night sky was perfectly clear, the setting brought back sweet memories.
With a smirk, she said, "You couldn't have been anymore cliché."
At that moment, the song switched to a fast-paced tune, breaking the romantic vibe of the scene. Kevin shrugged at her. "I figured girls like the romantic stuff. And it's not like I took you out to some fancy restaurant before proposing. But if you're complaining, I can always take back the ring, get a cheaper replacement, and buy some new engine parts instead."
Gwen smacked his arm before leaning closer to Kevin. "I never said I didn't like it."
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A/N: Oh my, this has got to be one of the cheesiest things I've ever written. However, I do like how it turned out. Anyway, the title is a reference to the memory the place has. Reviews are always appreciated (I say this a lot, don't I?).
Twilight Phantom Dragon