A/N: Part 2 of the ridiculously epilouge I have in mind for this. One more chapter and it's over.

The green Challenger pulls up to the two-storey home, the engine dying at the simple flick of the burley driver's wrist. He turns his solemn gaze from the window to look at his girlfriend's home. He had lost count the amount of times he had been here since teaming up with the two cousins, it was like second nature to get out and walk to the front door. But now, everything has changed, he has changed and the idea of walking into that home were his family resided is something that terrifies him to point of nausea.

Un-buckling himself, Kevin opens up his door, his legs feeling like dead weights as he steps on to the dark asphalt. He can feel his stomach acid begin to crawl its way up his throat as he walks round to the passenger side. The urge to vomit is unbearable, and he has to pause for a moment to stop himself from releasing what little food he had ingested.

His mother steps out of the vehicle, casting a worried glance at her son who seems rooted to the spot as he stares at the home before him. The Osmosian swallows thickly and continues on, his steps slow and deliberate. He's trying to drag out time before he is forced to stand with the hero's devastated family, hiding his feelings and putting on the brave façade he hates. The only relief he has is knowing his red-haired beauty will be by his side, knowing his pain and being the only one who can see behind the mask of strength.

The muffled sound of knuckles rapping on the hard wood echoes through the silent household, alerting the inhabitants to the newly arrived guests. Frank is the one to welcome them in, a small forced smile pulling at his wan features as steps back to let them in a hallway.

"Welcome, thank you for coming. Please make yourselves comfortable." He greets monotonously and motions in the direction of the living room before turning to his daughter's boyfriend "Kevin, Gwen is just upstairs finishing getting ready. I'm sure she will be down shortly."

The dark-haired male mumbles a small thanks and follows his mother into the living room were the rest of the Tennyson clan resided. Almost instantly he is suffocated by the heavy atmosphere that hangs in the air like a deadly, dense fog. His dark eyes roam over the different faces, all sporting the same blank expression, but he can see deep in their eyes the crippling grief that clutches their hearts.

Shuffling in beside his mother awkwardly, he keeps his gaze to the floor. He didn't belong here, not after everything he had put the boy through when they were younger. This was a family affair, no ex-cons allowed.

But to him, you were family. You were his big brother, the one he could always rely on.

He frowns at the small voice that echoes through his brain, despising the way it sent a new sharp sting of agony through his broken soul. Never did he think that he would be so devastated at the loss of the green-eyed boy. When he was younger, it had been his life's mission to watch the sticky crimson blood flow from the boy's body and watch his green eyes grow dull and lifeless.

Now it had happened, and he was literally torn into shreds with grief.

Frank re-enters the room to his left, taking his place next to his strangely quiet wife. The usually opinionated redhead was deathly still, staring blankly ahead, her cerulean eyes bloodshot. Following her distant gaze, he spots what she is studying.

A small wooden frame sits atop the large mahogany fireplace that gives the room its homely feel. Inside, sits a photo of both Gwen and her cousin as small 5 year olds chasing each other. Gwen has her crimson mane braided into two pigtails, her green eyes bright with mischief as her floral dress fans out behind her. Ben's has an ear-splitting grin on his face has he runs just out of the girls reach, he has his usual messy brown mop that slightly covers his eyes and is clothed in a bright green jumpsuit and white shirt.

A lump forms in the dark-haired male's throat and he swallows thickly, blinking away the tears that pool in his obsidian eyes. Even now he had loved winding up his cousin, a trait he seemingly didn't grow out of. In fact he seemed to love winding everyone up.

Kevin recalls all the times he had chased the brunette in the same fashion, growling out threats as the boy erupted with maniacal laughter. He had never once told anyone about how much he had loved those moments. Just being able to act their age and have a good time.

"Kevin, Ana, glad you could make it"

The voice cuts through Kevin's distance thoughts. Snapping his eyes away from the haunting picture, he locks eyes with Max. The 66-year-old has a friendly smile on his face, betraying the rage of emotions that shimmer in his silver gaze. The retired Plumber gives his mother a warm hug before shaking his hand.

"I'm sorry about your loss, sir" he mumbles, averting his gaze back down to the wooden floor below.

He hears the man sigh "He was a hero till the end" he whispers back, voice pained.

"To the end" the Osmosian confirms in a hushed whisper, still unable to lock eyes with the grandfather of the boy he had failed to save.

"I didn't want my son to be a hero…"

Carl's angry voice cuts through the air, his brown eyes blazing with rage and grief as he clutched his weeping wife close to his side. His comment is clearly directed to Max.

The retired plumbers eyes harden, mouth set into a grim line as he takes a breath. Kevin can see it written over the older mans face the grief and regret he feels. The watch was intended for him, not Ben. If it had found its required target, none of this would have happened.

"I know"

Max's answer is curt as he turns to face his son, sorrowful grey meeting burning brown. He doesn't want to dwell on the subject, it's too painful. But clearly, the hero's father has other ideas.

"If it wasn't for you, none of this would have happened! I knew I shouldn't have let him go on that trip! My whole childhood you lied to not only Mom, but Frank and I! Then you thought it was acceptable for my son to lie to me as well!" Carl hisses through clenched teeth, using every inch of will power not to yell.

Max's grey up flare up with regret as he diverts his gaze away from his son to stare at the many pictures of his children and grandchildren that line the walls of the room.

"I never wanted any of you to get into the plumbing business. It was too dangerous, haunting. That's why I lied to your mother any you. But when Ben found the watch, all the hard work seemed to shatter. I never intended for him to become a plumber, nor Gwen. But when the Omnitrix wound up on Ben's wrist, it was out of my hands."

He takes in a shuddering sigh as he looks back at his son, who continues to glare at him, his own face a stony mask.

"Well clearly you didn't hide it well enough did you Dad" He snaps "Because now my damn son is DEAD!"

Everything seems to freeze as that single word hangs in the air. Dead. No-one saw it coming, no-one thought it possible. But here they were, and all suddenly seemed to hit home.

A loud wailed sob erupts from the deceased boy's mother as she buries her head the crook of her husband shoulder, her far to skinny body convulsing as she continues to cry.

"Max, I think you should leave" Carl growls, pulling his wife closer as he rubs soothing circles on her shoulder. The older man nods and makes his way to the front door.

"Grandpa, no, please"

Everyone turns to see Gwen standing at the top of the stairs. She is dressed in a knee-length black dress with matching pumps. Her emerald eyes are wide with fear and pain as she stares at her grandfather, hand gripping the banister as if it was the only thing keeping her upright.

"I'm sorry pumpkin" He whispers and opens the front door before stepping out and closing it behind him. Immediately, the redhead rushes back up stairs, her heels echoing along the hallways followed by the sound of a slamming door.

Before anyone else has a time to react, Kevin rushes forward. Taking two steps at a time, he is up the stairs and making his way towards the girl's bedroom. He can hear muffled cries as he comes to her door.

He heart aches as he listened to her cries. He wants nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and kiss her beautiful mane of red hair as he whispers that its going to be alright. But he can't, because he can't keep that promise.

Slowly opening the door, he spots her sat on the edge of the bed, her head tilted down, red mane cascading around her face like a curtain as clutches something to her chest. Unable to make out what the item is exactly, he steps forward, closing the door behind him. If she notices his presence, she doesn't make a move to show it; instead she continues to sob muttering unintelligible words between gaps of air.

"Hey" he soothes as he takes a seat beside her. Wrapping his arms around her, she begins to cry into his chest, body shaking as she tries to calm herself. Gently rocking her back and forth, he lets her cry. It is a few minutes before she able to compose herself, and pulling away she hastily wipes the tears from her face.

"Thank you" she whispers, voice hoarse as she refuses to look at him.

"No worries" he replies, obsidian eyes watching her intently. "What's that you got there?" he asks gently, motioning to her fist.

Hesitating for a few moments, she finally unravels her fist and holds out a silver necklace with a "G" pendant, decked in small emerald and white diamonds. It's not an expensive necklace he notes, probably one for 10 bucks or more.

"Ben brought this for me on my 14th birthday" she tells him, eyes watering as she brings back the fond memory. "He'd never really got me anything before. Well nothing like this anyway. I can still remember the way he fidgeted when he gave it to me. When I opened it, I gave him a massive hug and huge wet kiss on the cheek. You should have seen his face, he was mortified beyond belief" A small choked giggle escapes her. Kevin revels in the sound; he hadn't heard her laugh since the news. The sound was welcoming, even f it was for the wrong reasons.

"I wore it every day, happy that we weren't fighting like cat and dog like we used to" the smile on her face disappears as a frown warps her tear-stained face "But then one day during Karate practice, it got caught and snapped. I was so upset. Ben reassured me it was fine, but I felt so bad. He had taken all that time to pick it out only for me to break it. I meant to get it fixed but must have forgotten about it"

Kevin frowns, and holds out his hand "Can I have a look?" He questions. She passes it over, watching Kevin with wide eyes. Feeling the cool metal beneath of the chain, he concentrates on absorbing its properties. Locating the broken link, he places his index finger to it. With delicate grace so unusual for him, he melds it back together.

"There" he breathes, looking up to lock eyes with his girlfriend. He holds up the newly repaired necklace a small satisfied smile on his face.

"Oh Kevin" She gapes at him, eyes watering with tears that threaten to spill down her alabaster cheeks.

"Can I put it on you?"

Moving her hair out he way, Gwen turns her back to him so he can place it her. Lifting it over her head, he lets it rest on her breastbone before securing the back and letting it hang.

"You look beautiful" He whispers when she turns back to face him. Tears begin to fall down her cheeks as she stares into her boyfriend's captivating obsidian gaze. Bringing his hand up, he gently brushes her tears away with the pad of his thumb.

A small whimper escapes her, and Kevin quickly pulls her into his arms. He hates this, seeing her so broken, so vulnerable. He wished he could do something, anything to ease her pain, to put that breath-taking smile back on her face. But it would take time and patience, and he was willing to give those to her in abundance. Not only for her sakes but to keep the promise he swore he would never break:

No matter what, I will always take care of them

A/N: Until next time...