AN: I'm sure y'all are all wondering where I've been, what's my excuse and.. Well... (looks in box of excuses) I've got none... I'M SORRY.

BUT good news is that I'm on Christmas break with NO HOMEWORK so I'll try and work on this as much as possible, though I make no promises. I'm a terrible human being, I know. Still working on the re-writes of this story! Anywhoo, please read and on and enjoy!

RE-EDITED VERSION

Ben groaned as the light peeked in through his window, waking him up. He shifted in his bed, burying his head in his pillow. He was on the verge of falling back asleep when he heard a loud crash and a muttering of curses that would make even Kevin raise a brow. Ben opened an eye and sat up in bed, yawning. He decided to check out the crash, just in case it was an alien or something and he needed to save the world. He got up and glanced back at his bed wistfully.

'The world can wait a couple of more minutes… Can't it?' Ben turned to his bed once more, when something else crashed and someone cried out, followed by another string of curses a bit louder this time. Ben sighed and made his way to the noise.

As he walked into the kitchen he found Jackie standing over a small stove that had a pot, glaring at it as if it had burned her. There were some pots all over the floor, a high cabinet connected to the wall to the left of Jackie's head that was open, full of unorganized pots that were most likely the source of all the crashing.

Ben leaned against the wall, his eyes filling with amusement as Jackie cautiously glanced at the pot, as if expecting it to explode any moment. His eyes traveled up and down her figure, appreciating her bare legs that were uncovered by the plain gray large t-shirt she was wearing that came down just above her knees.

"I don't think it's going to bite." Ben called out from behind, trying not to laugh as Jackie whirled around, glaring at him.

"I know that Tennyson." Jackie huffed, holding one of her hands in the other. Ben quirked an eyebrow and walked over to her, eyeing her hand.

"You sound just like him when you say that. Only more lady like, and not as annoying." Ben chuckled at the glare she shot him, taking her injured hand and turning it over, checking for injuries. There was a red mark below her thumb that was raw and beginning to become swollen. Jackie tried to take her hand away and Ben shook his head at her.

"It's fine." She muttered. Ben pressed his finger lightly against the burn as Jackie winced.

"No, I don't think so." He said gently. Ben looked down at her, his heart momentarily stopping as her eyes locked with his. Her deep brown eyes were full of pain and caution, due to the fact that he was so close to her. Jackie's thick black hair was damp and wavy, naturally framing her face. She wore no make-up and again, Ben was struck with the fact that she needed none. His hand itched to cup her face, but she cleared her throat, turning away from him.

"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, much less a little burn." Jackie retorted as she tried to step away from him, hitting a pot as she backs away. She swore again. Ben chuckled and motioned to the cabinet near her.

"There should be some cream in the first aid kit in that cabinet there. I'll take care of breakfast." Ben smirked at her when she threw another glare at him. He could hear her muttering under her breath as she turned and reached up to the cabinet to get the cream.

Jackie opened the cabinet and saw the cream on the very top shelf. She inwardly groaned when she realized she wouldn't be able to reach it. Jackie could feel Ben's eyes boring into her as she was contemplating in what she was going to do. She could lift herself onto the counter with her hands… Well, with one hand and then…

Suddenly a large arm reached from behind her and easily grabbed the cream. Jackie spun around, locking eyes once again with Ben. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized just how close he was. So close she could smell him. He could easily trap her with both of his arms. He was looking down at her as if trying to figure her out. His green eyes seemed to probe into her soul. Jackie wasn't sure how she felt about that, or how she felt about him in general.

"Looking for this?" Ben smirked at her as he held up the cream. Jackie frowned and grabbed the cream.

"Thanks." She grumbled. Ben just laughed as she opened the cream and applied it to her wound, avoiding his gaze. Ben turned around and finished putting away the pots. He glanced at the pot on the stove and noticed an egg in a little bit of water, the rest spilled on the stove. He smiled a bit at the thought of Jackie trying to boil an egg and failing miserably.

"Why don't I just make us some scrambled eggs with bacon? Can you handle the toast?" Ben teased her, turning around to catch the look that she shot him.

"Yes!" Jackie snapped. She paused for a moment and asked in a quieter voice, "Umm… Where's the toast?"

Ben chuckled. "Cabinet to the left, bottom shelf and the toaster is in the corner over there on the counter, butter and jam in the fridge if you want any," he answered as he mopped up the water and put aside the egg in cold water. Ben cracked some eggs and put bacon on a hot pan. He heard Jackie shuffling, and then the toaster ding as it went down.

Jackie went over to the fridge and grabbed the butter and jam, setting it on the table and grabbed a knife out of the silverware drawer that she had found exploring earlier. She then sat down at the table and studied her surroundings.

The kitchen was small, a small window to the right, above the sink. There was a white fridge next to where the counter ended, the counter following the wall. The stove was in the corner to the left, near the sink. The cabinets were above the counter to the right. It was small and cozy for a lab under a gas station.

"Do you really live here?" Jackie asked as she sat in a chair, her eyes now studying the back of Ben as he cooked.

"Yeah. I lived with my parents until they took off on their permanent vacation. I moved here with Grandpa Max so I could work full time with him and the plumbers. Gwen has her own apartment and Kevin goes over a lot. He actually lives here though."

Jackie frowned at the mention of her brother, and bit her tongue at the nasty retort she had forming in her mind and instead focused her attention onto the brown-haired boy who was currently fixing her breakfast. Ben began humming, pouring the hot eggs onto a plate, grabbing some cups and pouring orange juice into them.

She truly did not know what to think, or how to feel about this guys who had so readily taken her under his wing without a second thought, within fifteen minutes in which he had met her; who was also now cooking her breakfast— which actually smelled quite good.

*Ding!*

The toaster went off, Ben placing the toast onto the plate which held their breakfast. He turned around and smiled, holding up the plate and curtsied.

"Bon apetite!" He grinned cheekily at her. Jackie just shook her head slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips. She shifted to a chair and grabbed a piece of toast, spreading jam eagerly.

Ben raised an eyebrow, "Got enough jam there?"

"No."

"Just checking."

Jackie started eating at a rapid pace, piling eggs and bacon on top of the toast, taking huge bites at a time. Ben's lip twitched in amusement as he pushed the plate to her, letting Jackie eat the rest. Her eyes shot up to his.

"Sorry. I haven't eaten an actual meal in a long time." Jackie shrugged, almost sheepish. Ben frowned in concern.

"How long?"

"… I don't know." She shrugged, taking another bite. She chewed a bit more slowly, as if savoring the flavor. "Two, three weeks? Time flies by when you're running for your life."

Ben sat back, his eyebrows furrowing as he thought about her running for her survival. Like an animal being hunted. He tensed, not liking the idea of someone out there trying to kill her. Jackie finished her eggs, looking up at him, raising a brow.

"What's got your pannies in a bunch?"

'The thought of some bastard trying to kill you.' He thought, but instead said, "Get dressed. We're going out." He hopped up, his face brightening at the idea forming in his mind.

"What?"

"We're going out. Come on! You don't wanna be cooped up in here all day long. Besides, you have to try this diner that's in town. It's the best." Ben glanced down at her, noticing how she just looked at him, not seeming to want to get up. Ben sighed.

"I'll let you drive the car." Jackie visibly brightened.

"Well what are you waiting for? Let's go Tennyson!"

"Gwen… Gwen!" Kevin called out to her wearily.

He had stayed at the lab last night, wanting to make sure his sister was settled, though without letting her know he was there. She clearly didn't want to see him, not that he could really blame her. Granted, it wasn't entirely his fault, but he never explained to her why he left. He just hoped that now that they were together again, he could have a chance at his redemption.

But first, he needed to get Gwen to start talking to him again. Everything last night had been a blur, but Gwen had held his hand the entire time, never once letting go. He hadn't really had a chance to think about what was going through her mind, as his long lost sister whom he had never mentioned suddenly showed up with little Benji last night. He knew he'd better get prepared for some yelling, hitting, cursing, the works. But when he has knocked on her door this morning, all she had done was open the door and walked away, letting him come in on his own.

She was in the kitchen making tea, as she always did when she needed to calm down. Kevin cautiously walked into the kitchen, biting his lip as he leaned against the doorway, eyeing her as she sat down at the table, not bothering to look up at him.

"Gwen…" He started softly, wincing as she tensed at her name. She took a deep breath, and motioned for him to sit down. He hurriedly sat in the chair across from her at her small, round table.

"Kevin, I am trying really hard right now to not say anything that's going to upset you." She finally looked up at him, her big green eyes meeting his. Kevin's eyes widened in shock.

"What? Why? You should be angry with me, wanting to rip my head off demanding it on a stake!"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Always with the dramatics Kev." She drawled, but then hesitated. "Don't get me wrong. I'm really angry with you." She cocked her head, her eyes seeming to grow sadder. "Hurt mostly, that you didn't trust me enough to tell me what happened." Kevin opened his mouth to interrupt, but Gwen held up her hand, stopping him.

"The thing is Kevin, I don't keep anything hidden from you. I feel…. Felt… That I knew you so well, and suddenly you have another family member that I've never heard of. I can't hold the fact that maybe you have something dark in your past that you don't want to talk about against you. But this…. Thing between us is supposed to be mutual. And right now… I feel like there's so much to you that I don't know anymore. It's confusing and I'm angry and I'm hurt, and I don't know what to do about it." She paused, taking another breath.

"But I want you to know…. You've got me on your side. I'm not leaving you." She gave him a small smile. Kevin sat there, gob-smacked that she was reacting the way she was.

'I really don't deserve her.'

"I really don't deserve you." Gwen snorted.

"No. You don't." She smirked, teasing him. But she suddenly drew away, growing serious.

"Why didn't you tell me Kevin?" Her voice soft, laced with hurt. Kevin closed his eyes, sighing.

"It's just that…Fuck, Gwen. It's not that I don't trust you, because fuck, I really do. Really, I do." He grabbed her hand, locking his pleading eyes with hers.

"When I was eleven and I always fought Ben and all of that shit that went down… It was after I left home and I was lost and confused, and not to mention dangerous. It was a pretty dark time for me, which is pretty fucking sad because I was only eleven years old. I left home, left my family and I pushed them out because I hate thinking about leaving them the way my dad left us. I was supposed to protect them and hold them together, and I destroyed whatever family I had left. But Gwen, you have got to believe me when I tell you I didn't want too." Kevin's voice grew desperate.

"I love my sister and… I loved my mom." His eyes squeezed shut as a wave of grief overcame him. Gwen stood up and went to hold him, tears pricking at her eyes.

"I'm so sorry Gwen, that I didn't tell you, or Benji. I really am. It's just that… That part of my past is something I hate thinking about, so I don't. It's complicated and messy and with Jackie here… It's… I…" He trailed off, looking down, unsure how to go on.

"Kevin." Gwen stated softly, grabbing his chin and making him look up at her. "I know. I'm hurt, but you don't have to explain to me at this moment, alright? I want you to talk to me, I want to understand why you didn't tell me. This won't be easy, but I want to help make this better for you." She kissed his lips softly, feeling him push against her.

Kevin pressed his forehead against hers, utterly confused and awed at the fact Gwen was willing to stay in his life.

"Why?" He murmured, looking deep into those green eyes that kept drowning him over and over again. Gwen smiled a bit.

"Because that's what you do when you… Care about someone." She said softly, pulling him tight into her arms.

Kevin just rested his head on her shoulder, his heart pounding with the disappointment that she hadn't said a different four letter word that he had desperately wanted to hear.