Egad! It's been a while huh? I'm currently juggling school, two jobs -the newest being an actor for a haunted attraction-, and not to forget friends and family. I cannot promise you faster updates but I will promise you updates in general. I hope this chapter makes up for lost time!

Disclaimer: I cannot believe that I haven't done this already; I won't be surprised if anybody sues my ass. Well –ahem– I do not in any way shape or form own Ben 10, Marlboro, Top Hat, Eve 6, The Matrix, Alien, Enchanted, Combichrist, and so on so forth. But what I do own are the stories I have personally put together for your entertainment. Any other person or place I do not include in the above are purely made up. Enjoy!

"For the last time Tennyson, I am not going to dress up like a lame ass and frolic around the neighborhood trick or treating with you," Kevin scoffed.

Ben's shoulders hunkered over with defeat. The older boy had been wiping down and waxing his precious car for a full hour now since he had washed it. The crisp aroma of pumpkins, candy –and for lack of a better word– fall air, wafted in a teasing manner to and fro beneath his nostrils. This only intensified Benjamin Tennyson's determination to convince him otherwise. He ripped the white cloth from his hands and tossed it to the asphalt in a bitter fit of frustration, now snaring his full attention.

"Oh come on Kevin, its Halloween! You of all people should enjoy this holiday," the brunet whined.

He stood up, grimly glowering down at the shorter teen, "What are you trying to imply, shrimp?"

"N-Nothing," he stuttered, "And I'd hate to burst your bubble but we're not trick or treating. Julie invited us to her Halloween party. I thought you liked parties?"

"Yeah," he said, retrieving the dirty rag from the floor and chucked it into the trunk, "I like going to parties when you're not included." He emphasized you're to an obvious extant that slightly offended Ben.

Kevin turned and placed the remaining can of wax into the trunk as well, shutting it closed as he headed for the drivers side where Ben wedged himself as a human blockade in front of the door and added in a sing song fashion, "Gwen will be there."

He glared down at the persistent and less he forget annoying fifteen year old in front of him, a smirk plastered across his goofy looking face. Not quite understanding how he ever befriended him as a child, he sighed with an obvious tone of regret, "Alright I'll go. But not in costume."

As expected, Ben frowned. "Aw that's no fun, Kevin. You have to! Gwen will be dressed up for it too."

He winced. It seemed that Ben wasn't as much of a half wit as he assumed him to be. He finally found his weak spot, Gwen. He really had to find his way around that later. Horrible and embarrassing things could ensue if he continued at this rate. He shuddered at the horrible and unearthly possibilities.

"I don't have a costume, Tennyson and its Halloween. Are you really that stupid to think the stores will be stocked full of them today?"

"I know a place!" he proclaimed dashing around the older one's muscular physique and opened the door, pushing him into the driver's seat and rushed over to the passengers, "And it has the perfect character for you too!"

Kevin stifled a groan and nothing short of a monotoned hurray as the younger one ecstatically directed him to their destination. An excruciating and agonizing ten minutes dragged on for the dark haired one until they had finally reached a tiny store flanked between two larger ones. They were both more than glad to leave the car and enter the shop labeled, 'Cosplay Galore'. Little bells jingled when they stepped inside and rang once more when the door shut. To Kevin's surprise, it was greatly lacking in costumers and uncomfortably dank.

"Why are you so willing to help me?" Kevin asked, letting Ben lead the way.

Much like a ten year old on Christmas morning, Ben wildly rushed up and down the isles in search for attire. He slowed down and answered him loudly, for a less than amused boy tailed him at a slower pace. "Remember when we went to watch Julie's tennis match and you were dead asleep throughout the whole thing?"

He heard him snort. "I haven't had a better nap since."

"Anyways," said Ben, shifting his hands through racks of bulging costumes. "After the game, Gwen insisted that I needed to ask Julie out. Which was a total score even though it was a little scary to say the least."

"Point?" Kevin asked dryly, now at his side and looking at nothing in particular.

"The point is that Gwen helped me out with getting together with Julie."

"I don't like where this is going," Ben heard him say as he stuffed his head into one rack of clothes to peek a look at another.

"You know you like her. All I'm doing is giving you a nudge to start off, kind of like she did. Except I won't physically nudge you," he rubbed his arm then suddenly cried out, "Here it is! See! Did I tell you it was perfect for you or what?"

If Kevin's mouth hung open any farther, his jaw would have met the floor. Gawking at the wardrobe Ben had yanked out from the heap of plenty of other better choices. "You've got to be kidding me, Benji boy. I'd rather be dead than be seen wearing this crap."

"Funny you say that because this goes with Gwen's costume." He said teasingly.

The taller one snatched a good grip at his bundled green jacket and assertively jerked him back and forth. "If you ever try to blackmail me using Gwen as an excuse I swear I'll–"

"Got it, yeah, yeah. Just try it on!"

"You're going to hell for this."

As the boys approached the flashy house decorated with tombstones, jack-o-lanterns, and cobwebs; Kevin suddenly became overwhelmed by a wave of embarrassment and nausea. He picked and pried at his navy blue frock coat with silver embroidered swirls at his chest and beige dress pants. This most certainly was one Halloween to remember. For a second he had the sudden urge to make a mad dash for his car and to leave Ben in the dust but decided against that, Gwen would hardly stand for it. Speaking of Ben, his teeth grinded and forehead wrinkled.

"Explain this to me one more time why you're not in costume and I'm stuck in these medieval dress robes?"

"That's where you're wrong," Ben corrected, reaching inside the folds of his inner jacket pocket and pulled out the familiar silver face mask that had been used by the DNAliens to conceal their identity.

Kevin rolled his eyes and found this nowhere close to being amusing, saying, "Weak."

The younger one frowned a little at first then shrugged the remark off. "I've been tweaking this mask for the past few months. I guarantee you that I'll be the belle of the ball tonight."

Kevin disagreed, "I doubt that."

"Then watch this…" Ben sneered

Pressing the metallic mask softly against the skin of his face, a new disguise quickly took over. It left Kevin in awe and moreover envious. Ben's body took shape to a towering slimy black creature, its spine protruding and rearing down into a swift boney tail. His head had narrowed and elongated, he snarled as his drooling lipless mouth opened to let a smaller set of translucent jaws shoot out and snap inches away from Kevin's bemused face.

He watched him askew, "Alien? You're going as Alien? Very original, I'm sure you'll sweep Julie off her feet with those dashing good looks."

The morphed version of Ben stood there dumbstruck for a moment to take in his statement then raised a massive clawed hand to scratch at the back of his neck. Guess he hadn't thought out what Julie might think of his monstrous outlook. But he still felt scary and intimidating nonetheless. And wasn't that what this holiday was all about anyhow? Kevin on the downside was furious that Ben could at least get away with looking like a masterpiece. He instead felt much like a disasterpiece.

With nothing else said, they marched onwards to the home bustled with adolescents clad in various types of disguises of the night. And to both Ben and Kevin's disgust, most were girls greatly lacking garments altogether. They both mused in hopes that their crushes wouldn't have the same scandalous ideas about costumes. But a particular group of these flashy dressed girls were talking about something that had taken Kevin's interest; something about a spooky forest nearby being haunted. He mulled over this in curiosity as they entered the house and they were instantaneously greeted by none other than Julie in an attractive but thankfully conservative black witch gown with a laced scarlet sash tied fitfully around her waist and another around the base of her pointed hat.

"Hi Kevin! Umm… who's your friend?" she asked with a curious hesitance.

Before Kevin could slyly answer, the fearsome creature beside him prowled towards her in a ravenous manner. No matter how normal he could try to act, he would still appear ferocious; the cowering people around them were proof. He was a true monstrous sight to say the least.

"It's me, Ben…" he growled sheepishly, "I hope I'm not too frightening for you to look at."

She watched him peculiarly, her dark eyes roaming across his grotesque features. She seemed much more in awe and impressed than anything else. Then suddenly she threw her arms up and around his lanky and lustrous onyx neck, nuzzling her face into the deep cavity of his collar bone. Kevin noticed Ben's body tense and tremble at her touch, he laughed at this.

"Too frightening?" she repeated, "No way! Ben you look so awesome!"

"Really?" he chuckled, "You're a sight for sore eyes yourself, you know."

She flushed profusely and thanked him, gleaming at him girlishly. They continued to talk and left Kevin at the whim of watching them continue to flirt. He wasn't too much of a happy clam because of this then realized… Gwen. He could be with her now flirting –much better of course– as they were.

Silently excusing himself from Ben and Julie's revolting conversation, he parted through the sea of dancing goblins, fairies, and monsters. He scanned the painted faces and cloaked figures with little luck of finding Gwen's distinct features. No fiery red hair with the exception of horned devils and no brilliant green eyes besides other dull ones. No Gwendolyn. The thick blanket of synthetic fog and flashing strobe lights hadn't helped his eyesight much either. There simply wasn't a needle in this particular haystack.

"Going to the ball, prince charming?" a sniggering voice resounded behind him.

He turned and through the haze of smoke he found none other than the weasel-like features of Cash, JT predictably by his side. They were both arrayed in long black leather trench coats meeting their ankles with slick black attires and dark shades concealing their eyes. Kevin mockingly laughed at their poor attempt of intimidation. "Don't get me started, Shaft."

"I'm supposed to be Neo from The Matrix, duh," said Cash with a sneer.

JT chimed in soon after. "Even a third grader could recognize us."

The sixteen year old snorted, "Sorry, no one informed me that the chosen one was a pair of geeks with a knack for cheap leather."

He smirked at the instant their mouths fell and when their faces simultaneously scrunched up in fury. Even if Ben had settled the score between those two, Kevin had not, especially with Cash. And at this point nothing felt better than teasing a few dorks, although he'd prefer flirting with Ben's cousin far more. With a strong cackle at his successful vengeance, he started towards the front door. He then grunted absently with no intentions of sticking around if the worthwhile redhead wasn't present.

Then he heard a sour comeback from close behind, "Pussy."

The commotion of voices nearby grew hushed and silent as the grave with an occasional gasp and gossiping whispers in hopes for a brawl. The thrumming song Without Emotions thumped at their ears and fired the intensity around the throng of people but everything seemed soundless, surreal between the teenagers. Onlookers waited and watched eagerly. Kevin's pace subsided and his strong fists clenched until knuckles turned white. He would take none of this. So he pivoted fast.

"Say that to my face!"

Cash glared muttering, "Gladly."

"Kevin!" a gentle voice called from a short distance.

As he reluctantly turned again, a flash of pink and red washed over his view before arms enveloped around his torso, familiar and warm arms. His anger was still present but simmered as he glanced over his shoulder and found the dynamic duo smugly parting from the scene. The crowd groaned with one less fight for the night but then quickly went back to dancing and conversing. Slender arms tightened with reassurance just before letting go.

His heart flopped about as he realized it who it was. He shifted his body from hers to gander at the art adorned before him. Gwen smiled bashfully, letting his eyes wander about the eloquent and sheer bubble gum pink dress that fit snug around all the right curves. Her hair was cast down, stray strands flouncing in light curls with pastel pink petals scattered here and there. Swallowing as quiet as possible, he redirected his gaze back to hers when she began to speak.

"Everyone's been telling me that you were here but Julie told me you took off, I couldn't find you anywhere. I thought you left, Robert."

His eyes beamed downward and a pang of jealousy prickled at the base of his spine. "Robert?"

A thin auburn brow was arched curiously. "Don't you know who you're dressed as?"

He winced. Ben was definitely going to hell for this.

"Like I would know all the details about this prissy guy," he folded his arms stubbornly. "It was your cousin's idea anyhow."

She giggled softly and patted away a small clump of lint in a creased fold on his chest. He watched her for a short moment then turned his head, still slightly fuming from letting the two wannabe bad boys flee from his clutch. She noticed his upset features then sternly cleared her throat.

She added, "I think you look nice."

He mumbled a huffing thank you and her glossy green eyes overlooked her dress, now feeling self-conscious. She couldn't help but wonder if the rest of the night would only bring more awkward and uncomfortable moments between them than usual. She noticed by his stiffening shoulders and dramatically pouting lips that he was having his typical and stubborn "Kevin" fit. Rolling her eyes, she contemplated what to say next. After all, matters would only worsen if her thoughts steered negatively. Approaching his steaming side, she toyed with the silk ribbons fastened beneath her chest and gave out a nervous laugh. He stared at her quizzically.

An interesting subject for conversation quickly entered her mind but left just as quickly as it came. Her smile began to fade into a frown. Why was it so hard to talk to him now? Had she dressed too much for his taste? Perhaps he just didn't like the holiday in general. Whatever the case was, it left her puzzled and shying away from talking. Then suddenly her attention was swiftly stolen by a nearby couple, loudly boasting about the woods behind Julie's place being haunted. She sneered thinking, 'How ridiculous.' It had to have been the fourth time she's heard that tonight. Then her eyes brightened as if a light switched on behind them.

She closed in on his presence, feeling his heat radiate onto her. Grinning quaintly, she asked, "Do you think that it's true?"

His body slightly jolted at the sudden words that had come from seemingly nowhere. He regained his stiff posture and groaned, "Do I think what's true?"

"You must have heard by now." He shrugged and she became faintly irritated. "The word's been buzzing around like wildfire that the forest behind Julie's place is haunted. What do you think?"

Remembering the ghastly attired girls out front talking about the same thing, he considered this question carefully. Then he fully faced her, resting a fidgeting hand onto his waist. "I think that anyone who believes in that sort of BS is completely full of it."

This statement tugged at her nerves. "So you're saying that you don't believe in ghosts or spirits and that sort of thing?"

"Yeah," he said as a matter of fact. "I look at it the same way I look at magic."

She sucked in a sharp breath of air. The way he had said magic so carelessly had driven her straight over the edge. He knew the way she felt about those sorts of things and yet he still managed to find a way to tease her about it. The nerve he had at times, she just couldn't believe.

"What did you just say?" she asked briskly.

For a moment she discovered a hint of intimidation within the glint of his dark earthy eyes. But it was gone in a second before she could provoke it. He chuckled and then stuffed idle hands into his beige pant pockets. "I'm sorry. Did I push a wrong button, Giselle?"

She crossed her arms. "Oh, so you do know what you're talking about. My apologies, I never knew you enjoyed Enchanted as much as I do."

"Why would I watch that?" he retorted quickly, "Besides, I already told you that this was Ben's idea," he was sure that the complexion of his face matched the vibrancy of her hair.

"Don't throw him under the bus," her eyes sharpened in on his, "You're just afraid to admit that ghosts are real, aren't you?!"

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am NOT!"

"Are TOO!"

Gwen caught herself nagging and quickly sealed her lips. The last thing she needed now, besides proving a point, was to behave immaturely. And as angry as he made her, she couldn't help but notice how cute he looked when he was arguing. Her eyelids drooped and she watched the details of his actions. To her advantage, he hadn't noticed this.

"You think you're so clever just because you think you can do magic? I bet you wouldn't even last ten minutes out there."

She bit the bottom of her lip and laughed a little. She could tell that wherever their conversation was leading them, it was bound to bring her something fun. "Are you daring me to go? Don't think I won't because I will –besides– its not like you'd last five minutes," she retorted hastily.

"Oh this is so on," he stubbornly spat, striding to the front door with Gwen fast at his side.

She eventually passed him up, reaching the door first before saying, "Bring it."

"Hey guys!" the sound of Ben's voice called from behind, "I've been looking for you two. I've got an awesome idea! Do you guys want to–"

"NO!" they shouted simultaneously, storming out of the house and leaving the daunting black alien in a perplexed state of confusion.

They left the party without the slightest notion of a backwards glance. The tension of confidence and rivalry between them was thick enough to cut. Lights of civilization eventually faded as they ventured deeper and deeper into the dense and dark brush of the forest. Tempers cooled as did the night. Anger and frustration was slowly becoming anxiety.

Kevin glanced over his left shoulder and found her skittish emerald irises searching the shadows for some form of devilish entity. He snickered to himself at this and turned his head from left to right to rid the cricks in his neck. He knew he had this in the bag. Without a doubt he knew.

Their pace eventually stifled into a halt and Gwen nestled her agitated body down onto a moss enveloped log. Kevin joined her side, resisting a cackle as best he could. There was nothing to be afraid of; he had no reason to fear the silhouettes of the trees or the unknown noises that surrounded them. He had more logical fears, nothing silly like hers. He turned to her and felt almost defensive at how afraid she looked. He felt strange and couldn't shake the feeling off. He felt the need to protect.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Gwen shifted herself close to his side and put her hands over his chest, "What was that?" she whispered into his shoulder with a easily detectable shaky fear in her tone.

He grinned, not caring what made the noise but thanked it for making it. His right arm had slipped around her neck and he rested his chin at the top of her head.

"Don't tell me you're scared already? Is little Gwendolyn afraid of the dark?" he teased.

The startled feeling subsided as her face fell, taking her hands away from his chest and pushed him aside. The thought had been coursing through her mind to use her powers for a makeshift flashlight but as she expected, he would obviously shoot her down for it. She was only kidding herself, an over active imagination was the only one to blame here. Sure aliens existed, but if so then wouldn't monsters too? Her gaze drifted upwards and stared solemnly at the claw-like branches and blackness above, hoping that nothing was looming within it.

Emerald eyes quickly shot downwards and she casually pressed out the creases in her dress as if nothing happened, "Don't be a jerk, Kevin. You heard it too."

"I know," he said with a strong arrogance. "That doesn't mean that I should flinch at every sound that nature makes. We're in a forest, Gwen. Think about it."

Slightly embarrassed, she couldn't think of what to say to counter his remark. She was focused more on the noise she heard. It didn't sound like anything nature would make. It resembled foot steps rustling through the fall leaves and that strangely frightened her.

Crunch. Crunch.

Goose bumps sprawled across the flesh of her arms and hairs stood on end. She looked over to Kevin and thankfully realized that he had heard it too. He hadn't appeared as startled as she did but she was certain that he was beginning to become worried. The thought of using her powers coursed again but she resisted it. She'd prefer being scared to death than being called a chicken.

"If that's the sound of nature Kevin, then what the hell did that noise belong to?"

He shrugged, "I don't know, a coyote."

Her face fell again, not convinced at all, "A coyote shuffling through the leaves on two feet? I don't think so."

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

The foot steps were much louder this time and sounded much closer. Kevin hadn't minded that she was afraid but also hadn't expected her to be so afraid in order for her to leap into his lap because this is exactly what she did. He watched her nervous features carefully and this time enclosed his arms around her waist and folded his hands together. Whether she was doing this on purpose or not didn't really matter, he was enjoying the attention all too much to care. The need not only to protect but to tease was undeniably strong as well.

He pulled her closer and whispered roughly, "Shall we investigate?"

"W-What?"

Her face turned to his and their noses brushed against each other. Gwen quickly realized the sudden lack of space between them but she took no action to move away, neither did he. They remained like this for a few minutes, glances locked and not daring to break away.

"Shall we investigate?" he asked again, now standing, "C'mon, I promise I won't let anything happen to you. If you get scared you can close your eyes and hold on tight." He took her small hand and squeezed it.

This made her fears seem a little silly now that he had put it that way. For being such a bad boy he wasn't half bad in the sweet talk department. She rolled her eyes for sake of being herself and nodded shyly, not quite believing what she was allowing him to do. Then she figured it was Halloween night, all sorts of things happen that wouldn't usually. So she gave a soft squeeze in return at his warm grip and agreed to play along. Blindly trekking into the distance where the noises were heard, they pursued after whatever it was that had Gwen so startled. Although glad that Kevin was there, Gwen on the downside still thought otherwise about their investigation. But afterall, she was a heroine in some form so to speak. This kept her going. That and the boy beside her.

"Still afraid?" he asked.

She snapped impulsively, "Why should I be?"

"I'm just checking, there's no need to get touchy. Besides, wouldn't you rather talk than let your fears get the better half of your conscience?"

She paused at this then replied quietly, "Why are you being so nice? It's Halloween. I would figure that you'd be toilet papering some innocent old person's house by now or scaring off little kids until they cried or-"

"You really shouldn't be so quick to judge, Gwen. Stereotypes are awfully harsh nowadays."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you think i'm the kind of guy that follows the rebel without a cause streak."

"And you're saying that your not?" she stopped and tore her hand away from his, "Well then you've got a funny way of making me think about you..." her eyes bulged and her fingertips covered her lips, suddenly realizing what she just said and how she said it.

An instant smirk sprawled across his face. "Could you repeat that?"

"Like hell I will! I didn't mean it like that it-it just came out wrong."

"Sure it did," he winked, "Now what exactly do you think about me?"

She huffed. "You're a narcissistic, vulgar, conniving, reckless, ignorant, little brat that thinks he can get away with whatever he wants whenever he wants. It's pathetic and degrading if you ask me."

He ran a hand through his slick gelled back hair, rustling it loose. "Don't forget that you can't get enough of me."

"That too! And another thing-" her mouth gaped and a whirl of butterflies fluttered in her belly. Correcting herself seemed a little useless at this point.

"Kevin two, Gwen zero," he scribbled with an imaginary pencil into the palm of his hand.

"See what I mean?! That right there! What else would that be if not being arrogant and pompous?"

He responded curtly, "Flirting."

She pressed her lips together and looked away from him, tonight really wasn't going as she had expected. But then again, nothing was ever predictable when it came to Kevin. And oddly she found that intriguing. It felt like hours had passed being with him. Curious and fun hours. What ever happened to "Time flies when you're having fun"? Perhaps because she never admitted to actually having fun. Whatever the cause was, she could care less. She was happy. That was all that mattered. Just then she felt him approach her from behind. She closed her eyes, deeply inhaling his scent through her nose. She sighed with a smile. He then took her shoulders and swiveled her around to face him. She tilted her view upwards and found him bearing very serious expression that she hadn't quite seen before. It made her pulse quicken and knees tremble.

She waited for him to tell her something but words never came. She didn't mind that. Words simply weren't enough to express the adrenaline and emotions she felt now. His "roguish charm" expressed enough for her. Then suddenly, her heart lept into her throat as she noted that his eyelids fell and he tantalizingly leaned in for a kiss. Swallowing the organ down, she too closed her eyes and ever slowly leaned forwards with lips slightly pushed outward.

'This is it' they thought in unison.

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

Bodies jolted, eyes shot open, and faces turned to the side where a towering black and oddly shaped figure dashed head-on towards the two teens, screeching and screaming almost loud enough to burst ear drums. Gwendolyn squealed in a fit of shock and terror, shutting her eyes tight and crashing into Kevin, sending them both tumbling to the earth.

"GOT YOU!!" It bellowed inhumanly and maniacally chuckled.

Eyes still closed, Gwen pressed her face hard into Kevin's chest and tucked herself into a ball. He let out groan that stifled into a frustrated growl. She flushed at this and looked to him with a guilty gaze. Expecting him to be upset with her, she noticed that he was glaring at the thing beside them.

"I told you they'd be upset. Check on them, they might be hurt." She heard a softer and more feminine voice say.

Finally summoning a distant courage within, she brought herself to look at the figure and still found the frightening blackness that made her wince. But as her eyes adjusted, she quickly spotted a witches hat upon the figure. Julie? Letting her eyes adjust more, she discovered the Alien version of Ben snickering with Julie -looking less enthralled- whose arms were latched around his neck and legs linked around his waist in a piggyback position. The witch slinked off the monster and headed for the two huddled against the floor in an 'I'm so sorry' manner.

"Did I interrupt anything?" Ben added sarcastically, pointing to what he found eloping lovers on the ground.

Before Kevin or Julie could respond in any fashion, Gwen sprung up from the boy, hands and eyes ensorcelled by a scorching flame of magenta. Her teeth grinded together and Ben's body twitched.

"BEN TENNYSON! YOU'RE GOING TO HELL AND BACK WHEN I'M DONE WITH YOU!!"

I know. I know. I torture Ben like mad 8D but are you complaining? Meh. Well I really hope you guys liked this one, Halloween's coming up and I'm psyched about working for my third year as a monster. This sort of let me vent out some scares and such. I personally have somewhat of a forest behind my own home and let me tell you folks, as much as I love the outdoors, it can be pretty darn scary at night. ANYHOW, "Without Emotions" is an awesome techno song by Combichrist, pretty creepy too. Perfect for my favorite season. Check it out. And reviews are oh so lovely!