Gwen was shaking as Max drove into the downtown streets of New York.

She felt sick to her stomach and felt a little faint. She looked out the window to see a few strippers and one alone on the corner of a street. She gulped as a drug addict came up to the woman but she pushed him away and started arguing with him. "you alright kiddo?" She looked up to see Max giving her a concerned look. She nodded with worried eyes. Max turned back to the road ahead. The streets were littered with newspapers and rubbish.

"STOP" She shouted at him as he quickly placed his foot down on the brakes. "whats wrong?" Max asked turning towards her. She gulped. "This is my… stop" She said nervously and uncertain. He looked out the window shaking his head. "Alright then" Max said.

Gwen creaped up to the door opening it slowly to see who was outside. "you look like your about to burgle a house" Ben said as he pushed her out the door. "I'm not I just… AHHH" She was grabbed by the ear.

"Where the hell have you been?" A man in a thick coat told her. she grabbed at his arm trying to remove herself from his grasp but it was no use.

"Let me go" She winced in pain but he just squeezed her ear tighter. "you are in so much trouble" He told her. Max and Ben came out to see what was happening. "Get off of her" Ben tugged him away.

"Back off hotshot" The untidily dressed man said as he took the girls arm with an iron grip. She winced in pain causing Max to pull out his plumber badge.

"I'm an officer of the law if you do not release your grip on the girl then you will be taken into custody" Max told him.

The man just laughed.

"Right" He snickered.

"well I got news for you. She's my daughter and I'm allowed to handle her and f*cking way I like" The man slurred his words. "Huh?" Ben turned towards Gwen. "I forgot to mention that little part" Gwen winced. "Even so" Max's voice boomed. "you still have to release the girl" Max stated. He stared at him for a second then narrowed his eyes and shoved the girl on the ground. "you'd be doing the same to your kids if they disappeared off for two weeks without no freakin phone call" The man stated as Ben helped his girlfriend up.

"Thanks" She whispered. "So this is your daughter?" Max asked placing his plumber badge away.

"Yes" The man said.

"Ben, Gwen why don't you two go inside for a second let me clear this up" Max said as they both nodded.

"My kid's going nowhere without me" The man grabbed her again.

"Now I appreciate you trying to help her out of this little precedent but she is fine now and she is going to be ground for the REST OF HER LIFE" The man yelled mainly towards the redhead. He stared at her for a second before saying "Now Get-" He pushed her towards the apartment building as she lowered her head in shame.

Ben and Max just stared in shock.

"wait?" Ben ran after him.

"Gwen?" He called out through the halls until he reached a door, which the man shoved his girlfriend into. "Wait sir stop there's been a misunderstanding" Ben said as he ran into the apartment before he could lock it. He took a look around to see a bare and trashed room.

Gwen walked into another room as Ben's gaze followed her. "See she said she didn't have a family so we decided to take her along with us and she was helping us find some convicts and I guess we got a little off track" Ben said twiddling his thumbs. In that instance Max came in through the door. "well I got news for you" The man poked Ben in the chest. "Me and my wife adopted that girl in 96"

"Oh thank god" Max whispered.

"and from that day on I have been taking care of her" The man stated.

"Where's your wife now?" Max asked.

"Dead" The man said.

"Drug overdose" The man stated not caringly.

"Now I don't understand what you two are doing here" He sipped his glass bottle of liquor. "we caught your daughter stealing and-"

"Oh for god sakes" The man placed the bottle of liquor down heavily. "Excuse me for a second" He walked into the room Gwen was in before shutting the door.

Yelling could be heard as well as Gwen's voice pleading with man. Ben heard a loud smacking noise and glass shatter before a loud thud as the man came back into the room slamming the door behind him. "Now what were you saying?" The man said as he picked up his bottle.

"we caught her and instead of her going to jail she offered to help us" Max said. "so what?" The man turned to them not giving a care.

"So I was wondering if your daughter would be allowed to stay with us until the rest of the summer is over" Max said. "more like the rest of her life" Ben whispered staring daggers to the man. He seemed poor of hearing so he didn't even pay attention to Ben's words.

"nope" The man got up off his seat.

"what do you mean no?" Ben Stared at him.

He felt a hand come down on his shoulder.

"Why don't you go play with Gwen for a little while so me and Mr…."

"Mathews" The man crossed his arms.

"Mathews can talk" Max said. Ben nodded and began walking to the door. "Gwen?" He opened it to find a dark room with a draw and a old matress along with a few beer and coke cans. "Gwen?" He walked over to the redhead on the floor near the mattress, which had a few messy looking blankets on it.

"Yeah?" She whispered. Ben came over and took her gently by the shoulders. "you Okay?" He asked her as he stared down at her.

His gaze soften when he saw her eyes shaking on the verge of tears. "I'm fine Ben" She whispered sitting on her bed. She held a broken picture of a woman a man and a baby with beautiful green eyes. "is that your mum?" Ben asked. "yeah" She nodded slowly tears stinging her eyes.

"I miss her" She whispered. "so much" Ben held her as she kept her gaze low. "she… looks like you" Ben told her making her snicker. "She's not my birth mum" Gwen told him keeping her gaze on the woman in the picture. "She was a stripper" Gwen told him "and my dad used to sell drugs on the street" Gwen lowered her voice.

"He still does" Gwen finally looked up at Ben still upset.

"wouldn't the adoption service have done a back round so you would..." He cut himself off. "I was abandoned in an alleyway and my mum found me and took me in" Gwen said forcing a smile but it faded quickly.

"How long ago did she…" Ben cut himself off. "Around 8yrs ago" Gwen said. "your dad said she died of drug overdose?" Ben asked. Gwen bit her bottom lip. "H-He" She began to cry on his shoulder. He pulled her in and held her tightly. "Gwen what happened?" Ben asked as gently as he could. "H-He got drunk and h-he s-slit her wrists" She cried.

"The police condemned it as a suicide from drugs and-" She cut herself off with more tears sprawling down her face.

"shhhh" Ben held her rocking her slowly back and forth. "its Okay Gwen" Ben whispered into her ear. "it's Okay" He whispered. "H-He killed her" She cried. "shhhh" he tried calming her down again."H-He killed my M-mum" more tears streaked down her cheeks as Ben held her.

"Gwen" he pulled her away after she calmed down a little. "Lets get you out of here" Ben said as Gwen nodded. He got up and walked over to her wardrobe pulling out a small bag school bag.

It had her schoolbooks in as Ben stared at them. "Do you need these?" Ben asked. Gwen shook her head as he pulled them out and placed them onto her bed. He pulled out a draw, which had a few clothes in them and then started placing a few clothes in the bag.

Gwen came over and passed him some books.

"Okay then" Ben smiled at her as he packed it in.

She smiled as she began to help him pack. "Thankyou" She whispered. Ben smiled at her as he zipped up her bag beginning to carry it for her. He walked out of the room as he held Gwen's hand. They found Max with his arms crossed staring daggers towards the man. "We'll meet you in the RustBucket grandpa" Ben said as he walked past them.

"Like hell your going anywhere with her" Mr. Mathews tried to come over and grab her but Max grabbed his arm and held him until they left. He then turned him round and placed handcuffs on him and led him out the door a few minutes after the duo left.

RUSTBUCKET

Ben placed the bag on the bottom bunk then pulled Gwen over and placed her down on the bed.

He smiled at her happy that she was coming with him.

"Ben, Gwen" Max called out to them as he walked in.

"Yeah Grandpa?" Ben said while Gwen snuggled up to him.

"I'm gonna be gone a while" Max scratched the back of his head.

"How you feeling sweetheart?" Max came over and rustled her hair.

She smiled at him.

"I've felt better" She said as she leaned her head on Ben's chest.

"We'll get take out tonight even a few movies huh?" Max smiled at them.

"Sure thing Grandpa" Ben said holding Gwen closer.

Max walked out the RV as Ben brought Gwen more closer.

"Gwen there's something that I always wanted to do with you" Ben looked her up and down as Gwen caught on.

NIGHTTIME

Max walked in as he found Ben asleep in the bottom bunk and the taps running. He knocked on the bathroom door as he heard the taps turn off. "One second" He heard a voice call out. Gwen opened the door as Max stared down at her with a towel wrapped round her waist.

"I was just checking that you are Okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine" she smiled at him.

"Just need to get changed that's all" she closed the door.

He turned back to Ben who was snoring his head off. He noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt. Max just chuckled as the door reopened. Max smiled at her as he walked towards the phone picking it up and dialing the pizza parlors number for delivery. Gwen walked over to Ben ruffled his hair.

"wakey, wakey sleepy head" She called out to him. Ben opened his eyes and smiled at her. He brought his hand up towards her and placed his hand down on her cheek. "Wove you" He chuckled as he stoked her cheek.

She snickered keeping her eyes on him. He took her gently by the shoulder and laid her down next to him. "God your beautiful" He brought her closer causing her to blush. "you make a really comfy pillow" Gwen leaned on his chest as Ben snickered a little. Max smiled at the two.

"I'll get the food" He told them as he began to walk out the door.

NEXT MORNING

The next morning was quiet. Gwen awoke to find Ben chatting with Max. Gwen got up a little uneasy as Ben noticed her. He immediately stopped chatting and walked over to her.

"Hey Gwen" He forced a smiled at her.

"Hey" She got up drowsily.

"Gwen grandpa wants to… speak to you just for a minute" Ben said holding her. She nodded then closed her eyes still really tired. Ben just stared at her. "Kay" she answered back. She got up slowly holding her head as she walked over to Max.

"Maybe you should get changed kiddo we're just going to go for a little walk" Max told her.

She nodded as she walked into the bathroom.

10 minutes later she came out and walked over to Max.

She yawned as she followed him out of the door. "So" Max began as Gwen looked up at him. "Your dads been taken into custody for a while" Gwen looked down to the ground gulping. "Why?" She looked up at him. Max stopped in his trail as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Gwen did your dad ever touch you" Her eyes widened.

"What no" Gwen backed away from him. "Gwen its okay if you don't want to talk about it but I just need to know okay" He bent down to her level. She bit her lower lip and turned away.

Max just watched her.

'Poor thing' He thought. "Ben told me what you said" Max took her arm gently and continued to walk. "What did he tell you?" Gwen whispered scared about what he was going to say. "Ben said that he hit you?" Max put forth. It took a few seconds to answer. "Yeah" Gwen felt her face. "He also told me about your mother" Max said as Gwen looked up at him.

"And believe me Gwen that case will be looked up again" Max said placing a hand on her back as they continued to walk. Max looked down at her.

she looked so scared.

"we'll make sure your dad cant get his hands on you" Max told her causing her to nod. "thanks" She whispered as she held her arm and looked away. There was a silence for a while. Max scratched the back of his neck. "So only two weeks left of summer huh" Max smiled at her. it didn't seem to make her smile she just nodded her head and continued to walk. "Ben's uncle and aunt are more then glad to take you in if you were wondering" Max said as Gwen looked up at him with worried eyes but managed to force a smiled.

"They can get you some new clothes, new books even put you in for school there" Max told her making her smile.

"Thank you Max" She said happily hugging him. "no problem kiddo" He chuckled hugging back. "We should get breakfast started" Max told her.

"I want to be at least be near Niagara falls by sunset tomorrow"

Gwen smiled at him then quickly raced back to the RV.

"Ben" She ran in through the RV to find Ben playing on a sumo slammers game. "thankyou. Thankyou, thankyou" She smiled hugging him.

"woah watch it Gwen I'm on the last level" Ben stated attempting to wrap an arm round her whilst playing the game.

"I'm glad your happy Gwen but you don't need to go screwing up my new high school" Gwen rolled her eyes. Max walked in to see the two. He smiled and walked up to the drivers seat and started the RV.

2 DAYS LATER- NIAGARA FALLS

Ben walked up to the edge of the railing looking down at the entire view. "Hey Gwen" He called out for her chuckling.

"yeah" She walked over to him a little nervous.

"Look over there" He pointed to a corner of the waterfall.

Gwen moved her upper body a little over the railing to see what he was pointing at. Ben grabbed the back of her shoulders quickly shoving her forward and backwards in a fast motion. "Save your life" He called out as he released his grip on her causing her to hold onto the railing. "Ben that's not funny" She told him rolling her eyes. "It wasn't funny the last three times either" she looked up at him still clutching onto the rail.

"Your right Gwen its not funny" He told her grabbing her waist.

"its hilarious" He laughed grabbing her shoulders against and pushing her foreword and back.

She growled at him her eyes beginning to glow as she grabbed him and chucked him down the water fall only for him to land on a platform of manna and be raised up about the same height as the railing except be 15 metres away from it.

Gwen then jumped onto the railing and leaped into the waterfall only to land on a platform of manna and be raised up the same height. "you are so dead" She smiled at him. Ben was about to press down the ulitmatirx until someone shouted "BEN, GWEN"

They turned to see a very unhappy Max. Gwen stared at him as her focus dropped and down came Ben. "GGWWEENN" He called out as she turned back to see him falling. She used trendils of manna to grab him before he fell into the water. She clicked her fingers as they were both transported next to Max who stood there with his arms crossed. He narrowed his eyes at the girl. "Ben started it" She comebacked. "What no I didn't" Ben said. "you tried to kill me" Ben said. "Did not" Gwen replied. "Alright you two" Max tried to separate them. "I don't care who started it" Max told them holding one of their shoulders in each hand. "Its ended now can we please enjoy the rest of the day?" Max asked. Ben and Gwen looked at each other.

"Sorry grandpa"

"Sorry Max" They said in syncopation.

"Good now lets go get some ice-cream" He smiled at them. He walked over to the ice-cream stand as Ben and Gwen just stared at each other. "Sorry" Ben told her looking upset. She smiled and hugged him.

"its Okay just ease up next time okay" She pulled him away but still held onto his shoulders. "I'm done with heights for a while" She smiled. "Here you go" Max came back and passed them an ice- cream each.

"Thanks" They smiled at him.

"you two finally getting along now" Max began to walk with them.

Ben nodded as Gwen licked her ice-cream. "Good" Max said as he leaned over the edge of the railing staring at the view. "remember coming here last year Ben?" Max asked. "You guys came here last year?" Gwen interrupted. Ben smiled.

"Every year since I was 10" Ben walked over and held her waist causing her to lean on his shoulder.

"You can come with us next year if you want to" Ben said eating the rest of his ice-cream. "yeah" She whispered turning her attention to the sunset.

"I'd like that"