Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Ben 10

Chapter 1

The drive to the lake was a quiet one as Ben sat at the back of Kevin's 2009 Dodge Challenger. As usual he sat at the back of the car quietly looking at the two love birds up front. He really didn't mind being the third wheel because in his mind someone had to look out for Gwen. Not that she needed rescuing, Lord knows she can kick anyone's butt even his for that matter but something in him always wanted to be near her to take care of her.

He really couldn't put his finger on it but since they were small kids it was always what drawn him to her side. At first he thought it was just a brotherly instinct so he acted that way towards her. He would always tease her and be a nuisance but as they grew up he noticed that it wasn't the case.

He was still lost in his pondering when the car stopped.

"Hellooooo! Earth to Ben" Gwen called out to him while waving her hand in front of his face. He must have been really absorbed in his thinking for him not to notice her there.

"Oh, hey" He answered with a sheepish grin.

"Come on your wasting time." She told him before grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the lake.

He followed her pace until they were at the small dock. She probably didn't notice but she was still holding his hand while they stood there looking out at the lake. Not that he minded but Kevin seeing them there like that might cause some problems for Gwen so slowly he pulled his hand back to his side. This caused Gwen to snap out of her trance.

She looked at him questioningly which he just answered with a smile.

"Come on Kevin might be looking for us." He told her as he gestured her back to where Kevin setup their picnic blanket.

Gwen just shrugged at what he said. She came closer to him until they were only inches apart. He couldn't figure her out she just stood there gazing into his eyes.

"What could she be thinking in that little pretty head of hers?" Ben thought to himself as he started to get lost in her gaze.

Gwen suddenly blushed and pulled back a couple of steps. This alarmed Ben as he didn't know if he said it out loud. She suddenly busied herself by looking down and playing with her feet. After a couple of minutes of silence he tried to reach her but she suddenly ran from him. This confused him as he didn't know how to respond but as if reading his thoughts Gwen suddenly turned around.

"Beat you getting back slowpoke" She taunted with a smile before running back to their picnic spot.

Ben just shook his head as he saw the red haired beauty run away from him with her hair being blown by the wind. He suddenly toggled the watch on his left wrist and adjusted it to be Xlr8. In a matter of seconds he was already sitting on the picnic blanket eating a sandwich before Gwen showed up panting.

"Cheater!" She shouted at him playfully while pointing on finger at him.

Ben acted shocked and insulted but did a poor job as Gwen suddenly started laughing. He would have done a better job if his face wasn't covered with ketchup, mustard, and breadcrumbs. Kevin joined Gwen as they laughed at Ben. He really wasn't going to let it go so when they were too busy laughing he quickly grabbed the ketchup and mustard bottle and started squirting it at them. The two tried to make a run for it but it was already too late.

They ran around for a couple more minutes until they dropped to the ground laughing and panting. It was a relief that they had time off like this. No aliens, no school and no one to bother them as they spent the weekend here at the lake.

When they started to feel hungry they quickly rose up and headed for their spot but a thought suddenly hit Kevin as he remembered something that he forgot to do.

""Aw, I forgot to get some ice for the sodas." He told them as slapped his forehead with one hand.

"I told you to get it earlier at the convenience store" Gwen reminded him. Kevin just answered by smiling sheepishly and scratching the back of his head.

"I'll just drive back and get some ice do you guys want anything?" Kevin asked them. The two just shook their heads in reply.

Before Kevin could turn around and leave Ben called out to him.

"You're not going back to town covered in all that right?"

"Oh yeah" Kevin used his powers to absorb the mess that covered him and in a matter of seconds he was clean again.

"Cool, that's one way of using your powers." Ben commented which Kevin just laughed in reply.

He got in the car and told them that he would be gone for at least an hour or two and with that he left them to get back to town.

"I think I'll take a dip in the lake" Gwen told Ben as she started to walk towards the lake.

"Hhmm..." Ben hummed causing Gwen to look back at him.

"What?" She asked, He didn't answer instead he just walked over to her and moved her hair from her face so that her beautiful face showed completely.

"I think ketchup and mustard looks good on you." Ben said with a straight face.

It took Gwen a full minute before her brain was able to process what he said. A soon as she got what he said she playfully hit him in the arm. Ben in response acted hurt and kneeled.

"Ouch! Don't hurt me... Please" He continued to tease.

Gwen playfully tackled him and started to tickle him a soon as he hit the grassed covered earth. It went on for a couple more seconds until they both noticed the position they were currently in. Gwen was on straddling Ben while while Ben was underneath her.

They had already stopped at their little tickle war but none had dared to move yet. Gwen just sat there on top of him looking into his eyes while Ben just enjoyed the moment. She's so beautiful, the way the sun hits her hair and gives of a certain glow. He was so mesmerized as he looked at her that was until he noticed something strange.

"If the sun was making her hair radiate then why does it have a dark purple glow in it" Ben thought to himself. Once again as if reading his mind Gwen suddenly jumped off him like she was caught on fire. She took a couple of steps away from him and stayed that way until he was back on his foot.

"Gwen are you ok?" Ben asked her genuine concern evident in his voice. Gwen just shook her head and faced the lake.

"I think I'll go on that dip now." She answered back as she slowly walk away.

Ben was completely lost now. One minute they were having a good time and the next thing he knows she's being distant. He didn't really know how to make heads and tail of what was happening but it was clear that they needed to sort it out.

He followed her back to the small dock that they went to earlier and there he saw here sitting with her feet dipped in the lake. He thought about lightening the mood so slowly he tiptoed closer to her with plans of pushing her in.

"Don't you even dare Benjamin Tennyson" She called out to him without looking back at his direction.

"Wow! How'd you even know I was here?" Ben asked her as he stopped dead in his tracks. Gwen didn't answer instead she just tap on the spot beside her indicating him to sit there.

Ben occupied the spot beside her and waited for whatever she wanted to say. Gwen stared into the lake for a couple more seconds before speaking.

"Did you know that Anodite's are truly on with nature. Communicating with it without words is as simple as breathing." She started to explain. Ben didn't really know why she was explaining this and what it has to do with the way she was acting but he didn't say anything.

"I know you don't understand why I'm telling you this but this is important."

Gwen positioned herself to face Ben as they sat there and motioned Ben to do the same. She held both of his hands and gave them a soft squeeze before continuing.

"I like you Ben and I think that you like me too." Gwen told him straight to the point.

"Of course I like you. We're cousins." He told her in a matter-of-fact way.

She shook her head in disbelief as he still tried to lie about it.

"Remember what I explained to you earlier?" Gwen asked. "You are part of nature Ben." She explained.

The realization suddenly hit Ben images of what had happened earlier suddenly came flooding back to him.

"She knows" Ben thought to himself.

"I wasn't quite sure before because I didn't have complete control of my powers but after my 18th birthday my powers started to grow stronger." She explained. "Strong enough to even sometimes be able to read minds."

She gave his hands another squeeze before continuing.

"I really don't use this power but when we're close together the intensity of the emotions we have just switches it on and for a couple of seconds I can see glimpses of your thoughts." She added.

Ben couldn't believe the revelation that he was hearing right now. So since her birthday she was somehow aware of how he felt but they had been hiding it from each other.

"I thought at first that it might just be nothing but as I stayed with Kevin I realized that being with him doesn't compare to the time that I spend with you."

Ben didn't want to waste anymore time, He didn't need to hear anymore. She was caught by surprise when he suddenly pulled her close and he slowly moved her hair away from her face. Using one finger he tucked it behind her ear and gently stroked her cheek as he slowly pulled his hand back.

Slowly his head moved closer to her looking to take her lips for his own. Eye to eye they gazed at one another not breaking eye contact until they were close enough and their lips finally touched. It was a gentle kiss but full of passion and emotion.

After a couple of seconds they broke apart both trying to catch their breath.

"I love you Gwen"

"I love you too Ben"

And for the second time their lips once again interlocked and the two pieces were once again one whole.

Author's Note:

My first ever Ben 10 fanfic!

Something I thought about thanks to Cryosfear.. ^^

I still have a couple more chapters in store but I'm taking them hostage..

I appreciate the many views in my stories but seeing only around 1% review rate

really takes a toll at my weak heart..

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