Sorry for the small delay. Yesterday (the 11th) was my birthday and I was a bit busy. Enjoy this bigger chapter as compensation.

jacm: Thank you! I'll try to give it a satisfying conclusion!

For the first time in weeks, Ben woke up in complete peace.

It wasn't the afternoon; he hadn't overslept again. No, instead it was only eight, he didn't feel sore even despite the fact he fought Zs'Skayr yesterday, and his limbs were intertwined with Hope's, the witch sleeping very closely at the bed they were now sharing at the hotel. It wasn't a big one, but it fit both of them just enough. Since both were heavy sleepers, they didn't move much during the night, allowing the couple to stay and embrace the whole night.

But if there was one situation which awakened Hope above from anything, it was Ben moving an inch in the morning when he woke up. Slowly, her eyes crept open, and she yawned, nuzzling her face in his chest.

"Good morning," Ben said, bringing one hand to caress her hair.

"You're so corny."

"Would you have me in any other way?"

"Not really," Hope answered, exiting the bed and taking a look outside. "As much as the people here are nice and are probably glad of how much we're paying them, I don't think I want to stay here for much longer."

"I suppose we could go to my home," Ben suggested. With some cleaning, it would be appropriate for them. Though there was one issue... "I still have to look after Benjamin. For now, at least."

"For as long as we shared a roof with him, I don't quite remember why you're babysitting him."

Ben shrugged. "Azmuth... not this universe's Azmuth... that is, the creator of the Omnitrix, ruler of Galvan Prime-"

"I've heard." Hope cut his explanation. Ben smiled.

"He brought Benjamin here to... I guess be shown a new light? I think we've done that. I don't know if enough to get his Omnitrix back, but he is a lot less grumpy."

"Remember he was dealing with grief. So, it wasn't just because he was an ass. Partially." Hope argued, searching through his bag for some reason. "Would you mind if I used one of your shirts? Today is abnormally warm and sometimes I don't feel like casting constant cooling spells onto my body. And as you noticed, she pointed towards her long sleeves. Hope for the most part used the same clothes, and she had explained there were spells to quickly clean them. But she had hinted they could get a proper wardrobe for her soon.

"Yeah, sure." Ben didn't mind that at all. He tended to keep to the same clothes, often washing them, simply because he didn't have a massive plethora of options. Hope eventually found one of his plain white shirts, and proceeded to – oh. Ben fought hard to suppress the developing blush that blossomed on his face when she removed her long-sleeved shirt, leaving him with a good view of her bare back. Hope must have noticed his embarrassment, since when she finished wearing his shirt, she turned with a sly smirk on her face.

"What? Don't tell me you aren't used to seeing women with little clothing."

"I don't get why you think I'm a womanizer," Ben remembered the word from a DM he received years ago after he began dating Kai. That had been bad enough. "I had short flings at best. And I was a teenager. Teenagers don't... you know."

"Yes, they do." Hope smiled, inching closer to the bed. The shirt was very loose on her body, and Ben had a very good view of her neck and collarbone. "We haven't yet had the opportunity to be alone," Her eyes flashed with amusement. "But you can't turn into a tomato every time. Don't tell me you've never-"

"I didn't say that." Ben quickly interrupted her. "Yes. I have. But I guess I'm just not used to pretty girls changing clothes in front of me."

"What, didn't Kai give you a good view?"

Ben didn't know if he wanted to smile or scowl. "Not like that. I guess I didn't realize how intimate we were being."

Hope chuckled, leaning closer to kiss him on the cheek. "We've been sleeping in the same bed for a while, as friends, even. I'd say it's a miracle we haven't gone all out yet."

"I suppose it's bound to happen eventually." Ben wasn't uncomfortable, just really flustered. This wasn't a conversation he had in any of his relationships. He and Kai... well, it had happened, but it certainly wasn't like this. Not at all.

"You can bet on that." She coursed a lone finger through his jawline, all the way down to his neck. It was hard to contain the shudder that came with the contact. "But well, I will let you linger on the expectation."

"You're making me imagine a lot of things."

Hope chuckled, finally putting some distance between them. "That's funny. You're funny, Ben. Half the reason I spare you my attention."

"Well said for the lunatic." Ben returned with a smile. Hope rolled her eyes.

"Come, I'm starving." She exited their room and Ben was quick to follow her to the table. Bad Ben had already served breakfast, with toast, bread, coffee and butter.

"Morning." His counterpart said to them, proceeding to eat a piece of toast after spreading butter over it. "Any plans for today?"

"No? Not that I know of." Yesterday had been too busy. Ben wanted to stay here all day, do nothing, order some food and chill with his girlfriend. "Why do you ask?"

Bad Ben finished munching on his toast before he answered. "You left your phone here yesterday. Your grandfather called earlier."

"Oh." Ben sat down, Hope following his gesture. "Did you pick it up?"

"I did. We're supposed to go to the headquarters in an hour."

"Why's that?" Hope questioned as she drank a cup of coffee. Not before she dropped five drops of sweetener into her cup.

"My Azmuth is here." Bad Ben explained. "He wants to see if there is... progress. Just that I don't know what progress he's expecting."

"Do you think he believes you can... I don't know, be turned into a regular hero?" Ben questioned.

"He is stubborn as a rock, but he isn't stupid." Benjamin rested his head on his hand, his elbow on top of the table. "I've never been a normal hero. Ever. If anything, I've always been Plumber material. That is, a cop. Because that's what the Plumbers are."

"Yeah..." Ben had some thoughts to spare about that, but he let his counterpart continue.

"I believe he wanted me to value people more. I'll admit I became desensitized... almost cold."

"Apparently that's something that happens."

"What makes you say that?" Benjamin asked with genuine curiosity.

Ben drank from his coffee before he continued. He preferred his coffee black, funnily enough. "I once was visited by a future Gwen. She was very powerful, had all the Charms of Bezel-"

Hope choked on her toast. "What?"

"Didn't I tell you that? I thought I did."

"No! You did not!" She had her eyes widened at his revelation. "And she used them casually?"

"Pretty much... I think that Gwen didn't dive into her Anodite side like ours. That was supposed to be my future, by the way, but I changed that by just going to said future."

"You got off-track." Bad Ben commented. Ben smiled apologetically.

"Sorry. So, she brought me and Gwen there. And proceeded to show us a futuristic city and tell us how much a jerk I became."

"Is that so?" Hope had regained some of her composure, and undoubtedly some of her cheek as well. "I couldn't see that happening."

"Yeah. I was a jerk. Barely went back to human. Saved lives in a way to cope with everything. Just then, Animo resurrected Vilgax. Yeah, Vilgax was killed. Sorry I didn't mention that."

"Seems like a central part of the story." Bad Ben said. "How can you leave that out?"

"Well, it wasn't just because of Vilgax. I mean, you killed your Vilgax, didn't you? And there's still hope for you."

"Depends on your definition of hope."

Ben chose to ignore that. "So yeah. I had to lecture him to not be such an asshole all the time and we beat Vilgax. With Arctiguana and Spitter."

"You can't be serious." Ben was delighted to see that his counterpart had a grin that went from ear to ear. "Fucking Spitter."

"What's Spitter?" Hope was the only one not aware of the Sphoeroid transformation, it seemed. Ben shared a mischievous look with Benjamin and searched for the seventh playlist in the Omnitrix, where he kept most of the aliens that probably needed some love. And then he pressed the dial. A second later, the massive moss green alien with a giant maw and small arms replaced his human form. Hope screeched, holding her stomach.

"Dear Circe, what is this?"

Both Benjamin and Spitter collapsed into laughter. Spitter's cackles were coarse and deep. It reminded Ben of a toad croaking.

"You don't even want to know what he does," Ben said, his massive lips curling up.

"Come on, show her." Benjamin urged, the rascal he was. As much as Ben thought it would be hilarious, they were eating.

"That's too evil," Spitter said, before slapping the Omnitrix, returning to human form. Hope was still looking at him horrified.

"I thought Stinkfly was bad enough." She spoke, drinking from her coffee again. "You were drooling."

"That's what he does. It's in his name. His attacks are even more powerful than Stinkfly."

"Ugh. And here I thought you were a decent fit for a boyfriend."

Ben rolled his eyes this time, closing their distance. "I know I am."

"You know, I think that is even more sickening than Spitter." Benjamin got up from the table. "If you excuse me, I will get ready to go. I believe they will send us a shuttle."

"Go ahead." Hope didn't drift her eyes away from Ben. "You're too confident for your own good, pretty boy."

"That's your fault." He replied with a smile. "I really didn't want to go out, you know?"

"Neither did I." Hope tied her hair up in a ponytail. "I was hoping we could watch more of those monster movies."

"You liked that, didn't you?" Ben smiled, remembering the time when they had watched a kaiju movie, and despite Ben falling asleep in the middle of it, it was still an enjoyable experience.

"Of course. Destruction and arson are always so enjoyable." Her tone was neutral enough that Ben couldn't tell if she was serious about it. She probably was.

"Are you coming?" He changed the subject. Hope quickly nodded.

"Of course. We're sticking together, aren't we?"

"That we are. You can think of me as a parole officer."

"Parole officers don't kiss their appointed criminals."

"I do." And he did just that, holding her head while he did it. "I'm gonna switch. Do you want me to fetch your robes?"

"No, actually," Hope said, her look a bit foggy. "I think I'll... try to dress normally. Just fetch me my shoes."

He nodded, and went back to the room. Quickly he switched to his brown pants and his number 10 shirt. A goalkeeper who wore the number ten. Sure, it all now meant more than that, but it started because of that. Then again, his surname was too good to pass on the opportunity. With Hope's shoes in his hand, he returned to the living room to find Bad Ben already there, wearing his all-black outfit. Hope had finished her breakfast and was just waiting for him.

"They'll be here in five." Bad Ben told him. "Sorry I looked into your phone again. I just saw the notification-"

"I mean, it's not like I can hide much from myself." Ben dismissed his worries, giving Hope her shoes, proceeding to sit down on the couch. "Whatever secrets I have, you probably know."

"Not all. But there isn't anything too interesting here anyway." Benjamin handed him his phone.

"I prefer it that way." They just had to wait a little bit for Hope to brush her hair and teeth and apply her lipstick, and they were ready to go. Downstairs at the hotel's entrance a small pod was waiting for them.

"Hello." A familiar hazel-eyed girl greeted them. Ben realized that this was the same girl who reported Hope placing an entire bank hostage. Only for it to be a ploy that led to this.

In a way this girl was sort of their Cupid.

"Lisa, isn't it?" Ben wanted to confirm. The girl nodded, wearing her black and white Plumber suit.

"Spot on."

"You know her?" Hope asked, a bit skeptical, some jealousy slipping in her voice.

"She's the one who told me you were sieging a bank some months ago. You know, when you put me against the wall and said you wanted to play nice now?" Ben's voice was quiet enough that the other Plumber didn't hear it, and apparently neither did Benjamin.

"Please. I asked you nicely." Hope answered with an eye-roll.

"I distinctly remember you saying that you'd follow me with or without my permission."

"Look into my eyes and tell me that would have been bad." And by looking into those damned blue eyes, those eyes that made his heart spiral out of control... it was hard even coming up with an answer.

"I won't give you the satisfaction." Ben smiled despite his answer, just as the small pod took off from the ground. They had all sat down at the seats that resembled car ones. The pod itself was round, resembling something like a submarine. The journey was quiet, and soon enough they disembarked at the Headquarters' hangar. There, Ben could see some familiar faces, like Fistina, Magister Patelliday and particularly Rook Shar, who gave Ben a friendly wave from near the tank she was standing. Ben returned the wave with a smile. Eventually, they were guided to Grandpa Max's office, which Ben knew the way in his head, but hey, if they wanted to escort him, whatever. Lisa left them at the doors, and the three of them entered it.

Grandpa was sitting at his chair, his hands joined together. On top of his table, though, stood a Galvan. Not any Galvan. Azmuth. But... something was kinda off.

The eye color. Sea-green. Yeah, this was definitely not his Azmuth.

"Hello, Ben Tennyson." Azmuth from Bad Ben's world greeted him first. "Your grandfather told me it is fine for me to call you that way."

"Yeah. It's alright." Maybe he was used to Azmuth being a bit of a jerk to him since their first interaction that it kinda shocked Ben to see a version of the Galvan leader that was being cordial. The frog-like alien gave a small nod to Hope, before setting his eyes on Benjamin. When that happened, it was almost like his look shifted. His eyes became more tired in a way.

"So... I would like to hear something, Benjamin," Azmuth said, in an exasperated voice. "Anything."

"It has been fine." Benjamin sat at the chair in front of Grandpa's table, staring only at the Galvan. Ben greeted Max with a silent nod, and received one back. "If your goal was to reconnect me to my humanity. Sure, that has been achieved. But you're not human yourself, Azmuth."

"Sharp." Azmuth narrowed his eyelids. It always amused Ben how Galvan eyelids were vertical. "I had multiple intentions. I could list them, but that wouldn't do us any favor. The priority is, indeed, dealing with your inner turmoil in some way. Trust me, I would not have wanted you to grieve alone. Even without the Omnitrix."

"I couldn't have done anything without it."

"But how could I have returned it to you?" Azmuth questioned. "If you were unstable, irrational, angry. That just couldn't happen."

"And now?" If Ben was anyone else, he might have missed the glimmer of hope, hidden beneath all the annoyance. But he knew himself well enough.

Azmuth grunted. "I am still revaluating the Omnitrix. For now, I could offer you a substitute much closer to the prototype you received as a child."

"The catch, Azmuth." Benjamin crossed his arms. Azmuth simply frowned.

"There is no catch, Benjamin. You already spent two months on this Earth. Alongside a version of you that is undoubtedly good at his heart. And it doesn't seem like it is treating you bad, by the looks of it."

Benjamin's expression softened for the first time. "It's been... enlightening. In some ways. But don't think of me as a hero like him."

"I am aware of your role." Azmuth calmly retorted. "But there's a barrier I didn't want you to cross as the wielder of the Omnitrix. Even if you made several mistakes in the past. They were corrected. And time was penance enough. We will not linger in this."

"Fine. Then... am I supposed to come with you?"

"That Earth is still yours." The Galvan argued. "While this planet has the privilege of having more than just Ben Tennyson standing in the way of certain doom, yours only have the Plumbers, and as I'm sure you're aware-"

"I know." Once more, his counterpart's voice rose, but he sighed afterwards. "I just want to... say goodbye to someone."

As much as there was disapproval stamped on Azmuth's wrinkly face, he slowly nodded. "I will make things quicker." From a pocket on his small robe, he pulled one of the teleport beacons Ben's Azmuth loved using to drag him to Galvan Prime whenever there was a crisis. He handed the device to Benjamin. "Set the coordinates."

And his counterpart did as much. Soon, both he and Azmuth vanished from the room.

Ben wondered how long it would take for them to return.

...

Benjamin knocked on the door. Getting in wasn't ever hard. And especially not with Azmuth skipping some steps like walking through the asylum's – as terrible as calling it that sounded – front door. But he at least made sure to knock on her door. He didn't want to invade his privacy.

His call was answered quickly when she answered the door, widening her hazel eyes in surprise. "Benjamin! They didn't tell me you were coming!"

"I wasn't." He got in, not fully closing the door behind him. Azmuth had stayed in the hallway, leaving them with much appreciated privacy. "I... I believe I want to go home now."

Elena deflated, her eyes briefly becoming foggy. "Really? I... I wasn't expecting it now..."

"I know. I just..." He rubbed his eyes. "I feel like I'm almost obligated to help you. It's the only thing keeping me in this foreign world. But... I don't know. Your aunt has been visiting you, right?"

"Yes." Elena's aunt and three cousins were her most immediate family, and it was good they were coming to see her. "I know I won't be left to rot. I just... in a way, I feel sad. But I understand. You aren't Ben... as much as I wish you were."

"And you're not the Elena I've fallen in love with." He uttered those words not with ill intent, and he was thankful the girl didn't show any signs of being offended or anything.

"That's okay. I reckon you have to protect your Earth."

"I do." Benjamin pondered if he was ready for the responsibility again. It would perhaps help in distracting him from other issues. "I think our time has been great. I'll... ensure you won't be alone."

"Thank you." What those words meant was known to both of them. "I hope you aren't going to be alone as well. Are you?"

Benjamin's thoughts came back to his family... what was left of it, that was. "I've always been on my own. But I will try to... arrange something." He added his last words when he saw the glimpses of a protest on her expression. "Thank you too for your time. For... listening. You're not her... but you're still an awesome friend."

"So are you." Elena smiled warmly, pulling him to a brief embrace. "Take care. Maybe hop in here if you can."

"It's... something I will try to accomplish." Perhaps Clockwork could work for that, so he didn't need to crawl back to Azmuth. "Goodbye."

Benjamin gave her a last look. It was just like the woman he had hated to love, but something was missing on her, and not simply madness. No.

Maybe it was her hair or something.

They returned not ten minutes later. Ben had been talking to his grandfather, and was startled to have them back.

"That thing is silent." His younger self complained.

"Especially good to sneak on someone," Charmcaster commented, leaning against the wall. "Are you going?"

The question had been directed at him. "Yes. I... I might try to appear eventually..."

"No pressure," Ben answered, extending a hand. "It's been nice. I mean, you were difficult, but it was certainly easier than 23."

"I don't doubt it." The hero had told Benjamin all about their version from the so-called 23rd dimension. How he was a spoiled xenophobic brat up until he showed up. "It's been good. Thanks for... putting my head in the right place." He took the handshake firmly.

"That's babysitter Tennyson for you, always on the case to do damage control of a version of myself."

Benjamin allowed himself to smile, and turned to Charmcaster. "What was it that I called you when we met at that bank?"

"A scoundrel." The witch rolled her eyes. "Is that what I still am?"

"Try not to be and you will find happiness. Just as much as I will try to apply that to me"

"Fair advice." They also shook hands, as Benjamin felt a hug would feel too personal. Besides, he knew how possessive he himself was. While Ben didn't show emotions like that as much as he did, he would never underestimate a Tennyson.

"Should we go?" He asked Azmuth, who nodded.

"Stay close." The Galvan advised, and Benjamin did as much. The last sight he had of the three people in the room was a positive one, and he was thankful, truly thankful, for these weird two months. A silent but blinding flash later, and he was greeted with the familiar sight of his apartment, which he rented from a retired Plumber.

"You've been here?" Benjamin asked, noticing how organized things were. Sure, he never left it too chaotic, but he had been absent for two months... or... wait... "Did you actually wait two months to pick me up, Azmuth? Couldn't you have just grabbed me from two months in the future?"

"As smart as I pride myself to be, Benjamin, time travel will always be something that, while not impossible to tamper with, would bring me the wrath of many beings. Chronosapiens are awfully perverse." The Galvan strode around the condo's floor. "And even if I did, I wanted the change to feel... real, as one would describe. Dust needed to settle before you returned."

"And have things been peaceful?"

"I haven't been monitoring the Earth up close. Petty crime has risen, it seemed. Especially underground. But nothing substantial."

Benjamin nodded. "And the Omnitrix?"

It looked like Azmuth wanted to sigh. He snapped his fingers and a grey, white, and sea-green device appeared on top of the table, encapsuled by a spherical container. "This prototype has access to twenty transformations. I have selected appropriate ones for your job. As I imagine you will resume your duties as a Plumber."

"If I'm accepted back." It was true he was never officially kicked out like Elena had, if only because the Plumbers knew they would always require Benjamin's assistance in dealing with major threats.

"You will be. I assure you." Azmuth extended a hand towards the table. Benjamin slowly approached it and extended his left arm. Just like in the past, the Omnitrix jumped and enveloped his wrist, in a way merging with him. Ben went through the alien options to find some interesting ones available.

"The Celestial Sapien?" As much as Benjamin was fine with using his nicknames in front of Ben and Charmcaster, he certainly wouldn't be doing it in front of Azmuth. "Even going by the lengths that I've seldom made the personalities agree with me... should you allow me with such power?"

"You are under the impression I am punishing you, Benjamin." Azmuth wearifully told him. "I am not. I wanted you to improve yourself. Sharpen your mind and senses so you may protect this planet and universe like your counterpart does. And as I told you, we don't have the luxury of other skilled individuals helping you."

"I figured." It was always him and Elena against the world, and his girlfriend would rather play villain. "But it feels useless. I can't convince them."

"I have noticed your pride has been wounded." Oh, how observant. "Make that an advantage to convince the personalities in a dire situation. I would rather have your Omnitrix back in your wrist. But alas." He began setting up coordinates in his teleporter, but stopped. "One last thing. There is someone who has asked to see you. I have taken the lead and spoken to her. Would you be available tomorrow in the afternoon?"

"Of course I would, what else could occupy my time?"

Azmuth simply nodded. "Then I will tell her to meet you at Mr. Smoothy.. I believe that's the name, isn't it? At four in the afternoon."

Now Benjamin was truly puzzled. "Who are you even talking about, Azmuth?"

...

Benjamin drummed his fingers impatiently on top of the table. It was 4:13, and no sight of her. What was she thinking? Had Azmuth fabricated this meeting? No, that was just ludicrous. So where? She was always so punctual in the past...

What could he even say? Benjamin was at a loss. Caught in the whirlwind of thoughts since he had returned from the other universe... There weren't a lot of things he needed to put in order, nor did he need to meet many people. His parents... he sent a text. Better that way. As for the Plumbers, he'd need to think about the idea.

It wasn't until 4:21 when he spotted a sight in the sky. A long-haired figure approaching rapidly, descending to the ground. There weren't any other patrons at the Mr. Smoothy, so at least no one noticed the purple-skin woman in magnificent robes.

"Benjamin." It was her. Only now he fully grasped what he was seeing.

"Gwendolyn." He blinked, and urged her to sit down. She did, not noticing or caring for the far away stares from passersby. Benjamin wasn't as much of a celebrity as Ben was, but there would be talk about this. Undoubtedly. "How are you?"

"I am fine." Her voice reverberated; it reminded much of their grandmother. It made sense. Gwendolyn had been given the choice to abdicate her humanity, to fully become an Anodite. Apparently that choice had become easier.

Seven years.

That much time.

Before, they had been close. Ever since their summer road trip when they were ten. Now, they were both twenty-three. Grown apart, but reunited.

"What about you?" She asked. Benjamin stared at pure lilac orbs, no pupil to speak of. They radiated with full power.

"I am... managing it," Benjamin stated. "I've had a few problems. But I am back."

"I heard. I am sorry about Elena." It didn't surprise him that Gwendolyn knew about Elena. They had dated before, if briefly. And were friends before this. Only after she went to Anodyne, he indulged in their twisted relationship. "You've been in a parallel Earth, is that so?"

"Quite. Not so much parallel. Their time is five years behind. But... I saw some people."

"Really?" She leaned forward. Her posture resembled one of a noble, not a carefree teenager. Gwendolyn had never been carefree, sure. But this was truly another person. "Like who?"

"Me. Charmcaster... you."

"Oh." Her tone was enlaced with curiosity. "And what is different about that Earth?"

"I've made some better choices." Benjamin didn't feel ashamed to admit that – now. "You're still around. And I witnessed as my counterpart fell for Charmcaster."

"That's... surprising." They hadn't had the most intimate relation with the witch in his dimension. A few confrontations, but it had been years since they saw each other. Perhaps she had been killed by one of her many enemies. "I can't see that."

"Neither could I, but it happened." Benjamin sighed. "It was truly a different world. Bad things happened, but nothing to this extent." He waved his arms around. "But I learned a thing or two. Or at least I believe I have. I feel like I could do better... better than what I was doing."

For a few moments, Gwendolyn was silent. Benjamin shuddered when under her gaze. It felt heavy, powerful. Like a simple thought could end his existence. His grandmother hadn't had such a menacing look. But then, her appearance shifted. Her skin became white like his, her hair shortened and darkened. And her eyes took a sea-green color that was all too familiar.

"At first, I was skeptical." Now her voice returned to what he had grown used to. It was slightly deeper, more mature, but definitely her voice. "When I heard you were sent to rehab after what happened in Undertown."

"I wouldn't call it rehab."

"It served that purpose." She retorted. "I came back to Earth a month ago to help with the clean-up. "I never ceased to be human, not really. I have a life in Anodyne, one very different to what a human does, but I am never going to stop being human. And that means I can't ever stop caring about you."

"I am sorry." Even he was surprised by his words. "For everything. For... Levin. For not hearing you. For letting you go."

"I had much time to think about that. It doesn't mean as much as it did before. Romance seems like a weird concept to me. Like a foggy dream. It doesn't matter. I recognize he was like a wild dog at that stage."

"The other me heard you." That seemed to startle Gwendolyn. "And Levin is alive. I regret not doing the same thing."

"If you feel regret..." She said after a few seconds of silence. "It's a start. The past can't be overridden... but it's not over."

"I hoped it wasn't." Benjamin didn't mind opening his heart like this. Not to her especially. "I might go insane if I'm alone for too long.'

"For now, I'll be with you, if you will have me." Gwendolyn brushed his hand with her fingers, and then squeezed it. "I missed you. I really have"

"So have I. I wished for your return so many times." It was hard to keep the composure now. When looking at her familiar face, all the memories returned. It filled him with deep shame... deep regret. What right did he have to define what evil was? To label himself as doing a greater service by exterminating people? He wouldn't hesitate to kill if needed, but what he did after Levin's death was terrible. Almost becoming a lackey of Vilgax and Eon. And losing his best friend...

Only to end up losing his loved one too.

"I'm here..." Gwendolyn quietly said, giving him a reassuring smile. "And I won't leave you alone."

Somehow, he believed it.