Work in progress > Gwen's Story <

[datdude]

The idea behind this thread is to trace the writing of a story from start to finish from brain storming session to finished posted story. Any suggestions are encouraged as talking about writing is why i'm here.

The Basics.

Title Gwen's story. Her character's been stuck in my head of late and writing this will hopefully get her out of my mind so I can do other things.

I see this is a one shot maybe 4-6 k words.

The entire thing needs to be narrated BY Gwen so her perspective on things needs to be the only one. It will trace her life up to the point where she leaves earth and her human body behind ( naturally we keep the reader guessing on that till the end ) some time between her late 40's and early 50's.

The entire story could be seen as her life flashing before her eyes so to speak.

I'd like to cut each scene so to speak by an era so to speak in her life. IE the time between highschool and college could be handled this was and the evens of the original series like wise it just the evens of note in that time frame that set them apart.

Thats the startof it. The first scene will be up before to long.

[datdude]

First bit is ready for eyes other then mine, and the pace makes me feel it will be more in the 2-4k work range then 4-6.

Gwen's Story

My Name Is Gwendolyn Tennyson I was born in a town called Bellwood, in the same hospital and about 10 minutes after my cousin Ben. Our Grandfather Max Tennyson posed for a picture holding both of us that day. In that picture he has a black eye, he told everyone he'd fought off a mugger in the parking lot. This was a lie, he had a life he kept secret from his family, and looking back on my own life the things in this picture would come to define the women I would become. My Grandfather, my cousin Ben, and secrets.

As a child I was always bright, doing well scholastically, and physically. My parents always went the extra mile to make sure I was in private school something they hadn't done with my older brother. I always worked hard enjoying the praise from my parents and teachers, and the feeling that comes with being the best.

My Grandfather was a regular part of my life in those days, always ready to spend some long Saturday at his favorite fishing hole teaching me about life. I was 9 years old when I realized he was at least in part trying to make up for missing so much of his own children growing up.

The one challenge I hated in those days came on my birthday. It had been tradition I celebrate it with Ben, and he was always mean, and jealous at having to share the day with me. The year I turned 10 my father took some time to sit me down, and tire to explain to me that Ben not having any siblings of his own wasn't used to having to share attention. He told me if I showed my cousin some patience I might see a different side to him. He also said I'd be spending the summer with my Grandfather and Ben.

[datdude]

Shifting focus on this one. It kept coming out like Gwens life as read by biography bot 5 no emotion at all.

[datdude]

OK this one ended up completely different from how I thought it would. No where near being " Gwen life " and more of a exploration of the Gen Gwen dynamic. We might get one more of these focusing on Kevin I'm not sure. So here we go before it sees FFN

Yesterdays Sins " Gwen "

Ben had gone missing two days ago. At first his parents just assumed he was doing the hero thing, but when he wasn't home by dawn his father called Grandpa Max. Grandpa Max called Gwen and neither Kevin or her had seen Ben for days.

First they tried their Plumbers badges, but no one showed up that wasn't where they where supposed to be. Then Ben's cell according to Cooper was turned off or had a dead battery because it hadn't connected to a tower since Friday afternoon. Max and Kevin next tried their connections getting no where fast.

Ben's bedroom seven thirty, Kevin was suspicious.

“ This will work when you can't track him the normal way because? ”

Gwen drew symbols on Ben's bedroom mirror with a dry erase marker.

“ Because people leave more then foot prints as they go through life. ”

Kevin shook his head.

“ How can you be an honor student that watches to much TV? ”

Gwen moved to the window opening it to let in the moon light.

“ Hulu. ”

Kevin just nodded his head, and she turned away from him.

“ Deslegrate muri tempi et intervalia. ”

The mirror took on a eerie purple glow, and hours or reflections rolled backwards in minutes.

“ Here we go. ”

Gwen tapped the mirror, and time began to play forward again. A silent image of Ben tapping away on his computer just before standing up and walking to the window. A flash of green light, and a transformation later Ben was gone. Gwen spoke.

“ Cooper hacked a cellphone company but didn't check Ben's computer? ”

“ What can I say that boy's sloppy some times. ”

Kevin sat down at Ben's desk and found his email password saved in the browser. He could see Gwen's face reflected in the monitor as he read Ben's mail.

“ Who's Kai Green? ”

Gwen's face told him “ something bad ”, as she turned away from him again, and pulled out her phone stopping before using it. She spoke.

“ You ever here about the lady and the tiger? ”

“ No, but I'd rather hear the one about Ben, and Kai. I don't like what I'd reading over here. This girl is in deep with a guy named Cardigan from out west. I heard of this guy Gwen, Volcanus told me he was to untrustworthy. VOLCANUS! ”

Gwen looked down at her phone, and spoke like she'd heard it all before.

“ Sounds about right. Kai's a Plumber kid her Dad got busted when we where 13 for smuggling so she moved in with her Mom not to far from here. That girl had developed some issues since we met last. I heard she run away a long time ago. ”

Kevin got up, and walked over to her.

“ Gwen you're acting weird, and Tennyson is off the grid. ”

He could tell she was lying as she spoke.

“ I'm worried that's all. Ben's off playing the hero without anyone to back him up. ”

Kevin move to the door.

“ OK I'll just go ask your Uncle Carl. ”

Gwen had her hand on his shoulder before he could turn the knob.

“ WAIT! ”

He turned around, and tired to not talk to her like he did Argit.

“ There's history here I get that, and if you want me to back off and let you deal with it I will. Just please don't try to sell me on you not knowing anything. ”

She took him by the hand and they sat on Ben's bed.

“ It's a long story. ”

**

Two years ago spring. Ben and Gwen lay on their backs in the soft grass of the park talking about better days.

“ What do you think Gwen the camping trip with the wolf man or when we where in that video game? ”

Gwen rolled her eyes at the sound of Ben bringing up THAT summer again. It was awesome, but Ben hardly ever talked about the here and now.

“ I really liked kicking around Charmcaster. Looking back on it being 10 and smacking a teenager around was very empowering. What do you think she was 14 or 15? ”

As Ben spoke again she cringed.

“ Boobs like that 16 at least. ”

Being “ one of the guys ” as far as Ben was concerned really did piss her off. The acne so bad she was taking medication and not being asked to a single dance all year because of it was bad having to listen to Ben's guy talk should be worse. Except the Sadie Hawkins dance was last month, and that made her want to think about anything but.

Gen tried to change the subject.

“ How's Grandpa Max? ”

“ He went out west someplace about a month ago. It was something with Kai's Dad. I wish he'd take me some place again, don't you? ”

Gwen smiled.

“ Take you away kind of ! The smell is getting to me! You know Kai would talk to you more if you used deodorant. ”

“ Ha Ha Miss Pizza face! ”

Gwen sat up to smack him only to get hit square in the face by a water balloon.

“ RRAAA! ”

“ Hay Cash it looks like you accidentally hit one of the Tennyson brothers! ”

“ No JT I think I hit Gwen, but it's hard to tell. ”

She heard Ben's voice through her anger.

“ They want us to run at them, the gardener always hooks up his hose over there. ”

Gwen got dead calm.

“ I don't care if I get wet do you? ”

“ I guess not then. ”

The cousins got up and walked not run at the pair of delinquents. When they got half way there when they pulled out a hose and drenched them both laughing all the way.

“ HAHAHAH! ”
“ HAHAHA ”

Lost in laughter Ben was next to JT before he realized it. Ben got a hose to the face, and he just stood there getting wetter as Gwen got into arms reach.

“ Now Ben! ”

Ben all to aware of were the water was coming from grabbed JT's wrist, and held on for all he was worth. Gwen punched him in the stomach hard.

“ Ooof! ”

He dropped the hose and tried to pull away from Ben as she pounded him for all she was worth. Cash just stood there looking confused.

“ Cash get'em off me! ”

Cash stepped forward and swung at Ben still half blind from the water he cough him in the face. Ben to his credit didn't flinch. Instead he shoved JT to the muddy ground, Gwen swept Cash's legs out from under him leaving them both in the mud. Gwen never one to be cruel had to admit she was glad to see Ben kick Cash in the face hard.

“ Next time you to see me and Gwen just keep walk'n. ”

The cousin walked off dripping wet leaving Cash and JT sore in the mud. Ben spoke pissed off.

“ Great now I have to go get changed before I go see Kai. ”

Gwen shook her head even Ben could get a date, and he still thought showering was optional.

“ OK this is advice on girls form you cousin. Deodorant, and tooth brushing are a MUST!! ”

“ I have a Mom thank you! Can't you magic us dry anyway?”

“ I haven't touched a spell book in months. ”

Ben made a face.

“ You're crazy. If I could wear the watch and not have crazies all over me or have to explain it all to my parents I would be using it right now. ”

“ Ben it's over, grow up. High-school is next year, then college, and then real life. ”

He got that look in his eyes, the one that said he was crazy or stupid enough to try anything.

“ Grandpa Max was a Plumber and he had two kids. Do you really want to be an accountant or something boring ? All that money Uncle Frank blows on private school thinking you might be an astronaut or something is just going to waste then hu? ”

“ You want magic FINE! ”

Gwen reached deep down and threw out a magic word. Ben smiled as he was totally dry.

“ And you wanted to be an accountant. ”

“ I do not! ”

“ Do that one more time, and you can come with me to see Kai. That's got to be better then going home, and being miserable doing I don't know reading twilight novels or whatever. ”

“ He maybe a smelly short sighted dweeb” Gwen thought “ but he does at least TRY to look out for me ”.

A spell later they where on their way to the trailer park Grandpa Max lived at most of the year. Gwen was sure the coincidence would make Ben “ just dropping by ” on his crush easy. Up the road Ben spotted Kai in the distance taking a small brown package from someone in a car. The girl shoved it in a back pack then started walking in their direction.

**

Kevin looked over at Gwen.

“ I'm guessing it wasn't a box of cookies. ”

“ She smelled like cinnamon all the time. ”

Kevin sat next to her.

“ Cinnamon? Gwen are you telling me her Mother had her carting Mobius around? ”

“ That's what Grandpa Max said when I told him. I had no idea what that was at the time, just that . . . Kai ran away the same day he put her Mother in the Null void. Ben . . .didn't talk to me for a month, and he never stopped pining over her. I was so glad when Ben started drooling over Julie. ”

“ If she's into that junk she's in for a family reunion. Only place you can be rehabbed for Mobius addiction IS the Null Void because it can't survive there. Not even inside someone. Are you sure you can't just do your thing and find him?”

Gwen shot him a look.

“ No I can't it's like he's out of range or something. Not that I know how far that is anyway. Listen we know Kai's involved, so we have that to start with. ”

Kevin picked up his phone.

“ Argit it's Kevin. . . ”

Gwen felt a pang of guilt watching Kevin talk. Argit was just the kind of person she knew was bad for Kevin to be around, and now he's asking for favors because of her. The memory of Ben covered in blue powder turned her stomach, and she told herself it was worth it. Kevin stood up, and spoke.

“ You might want to go home. Argit knew someone that might know, but I got to hit the Heretic club, and that's not a place for someone without a bad reputation. That's a place for native non humans only. They hate Plumbers and Plumber kids worse. Plumbers see them as trouble, the rest of the world see them as freaks. Plumber kids get all the protection they don't get. They find out your last name, we aren't fighting our way to the door, we are fighting our way up the block. ”

“ Kevin I'm scared FOR Ben, not of your Star Wars cantina. I'll blow the damn roof off if I have to. ”

“ All right then, the place don't really get hopping till 11 so if you want to fit in you'd better go home and change. It's not the nicest place if you catch my drift. ”

**

“ BEN! ”

Kai ran to Ben hugging him, causing him to blush.

“ Kai umm Hi! ”

Gwen looked on and scowled. This was her birthday, and yet again Ben was finding away to ruin it. Gwen sat in front of a slice of cake looking miserable as every guy there was ignoring Gwen in favor of Kai.

“ Not like I can even hold this one against him. That girls skin is flawless. ”

A red haired boy about a year or so older then her taped her on the shoulder

“ Hi your one of Kai's friends right? ”

Gwen smiled at the attention.

“ Yea the best! ”

**


Gwen looked at herself in the mirror. The ripped way to tight jeans and tie-dyed t-shirt cut off at her navel made her reflection seem alien. As for the leather jacked it stank of smoke, and had pepper spray and condoms in the inside pocket. All of it made her regret asking her brother for advice on how to dress. Not that she didn't need it having never been clubbing before.

“ Ken please keep your mouth shut till morning. ”

Her parents where not going to notice her going out this late till tomorrow. If she wasn't home by then Gwen knew she'd be in for it even if it was “ work ” related. Even so she decided to leave via her bedroom window just in case. Meeting Kevin around the corner just to be sure she got in the car and they where off.

“ Va voom Ben needs to go missing more often. ”

“ Kevin do not even go there, I feel like a reject from a bad movie, and you don't even looked dressed up at all. ”

“ No you know how I feel in a suit. How long can you make you're eyes glow for? ”

“ No idea but that time I heat visioned that packing foam I ruined my contacts. ”

Kevin raised an eyebrow.

“ You wear contacts? ”

“ Kevin on topic please. ”

“ OKOK we need to look as alien as we can. What can you do all glowie like for a long time. ”

With a thought her head was surrounded with a halo of purple lights.

“ Good good. Now when we get in there no badges, and if someone throws a punch or whatever make some noise the bouncer is supposed to be pretty nasty. We don't want to end up on his bad side. The guy we are after in fact is the head bouncer. Guys name is Blackthorn. ”

Gwen got that nagging feeling in her stomach that told he she should have asked a certain question hours ago.

“ You've been here before right? ”

“ Umm once after a . . job. Argit said something he shouldn't have, and we got showed the door pretty fast. ”

Gwen thought to herself “ Better then never being there before at least. ”

Kevin spoke reversing the tied of the conversation.

“ Gwen what happened with Ben O.D.ing when he was 13? ”

She hung her head.

“ He didn't OD they sent him to Saint Marries after. . .how do you know about this? ”

“ You're brother may have stopped by the garage . . . ”

“ Great. . ”

**

Gwen sat on the roof outside her bedroom window her eyes puffed up and red. She looked to her left as something struck her arm. Down in the yard Ben was tossing stones up at her. He was dressed in black, and had his back pack was over his left shoulder. Noticing her look in his direction her waved, and she rolled her eyes. Gwen hissed under her breath.

“ I am in no mood. . . ”

Seeing him ready another rock she reconsidered. Standing and walking off the edge like it was a step, and not a 2nd story roof.

“ Ortis ”

The spell much to her embarrassment was meant for moving small objects, and she was a very thin girl. Landing as easily as hopping off a set of monkey bars she greeted Ben coldly.

“ What are you doing out here this late Dweeb? ”

“ Hello to you to. Listen I tried to call and your Aunt Lili told me about the party. ”

She snapped at him.

“ It's called a Dog Dinner OK! Jerks bet on who can bring the . . ugliest . . dog. . ”

Gwen shut her eye determined not to cry again. To her surprise she felt Ben wrap his arms around her.

“ Screw'em their jerks that will never get a girl without flashing Daddy's money. Your face will clear up and they'll regret what that did I'm sure. ”

After a long minute Gwen pulled back and spoke.

“ You didn't pack a bag to tell me that. ”

“ Listen Kai needs my help I need to go away for a while and I wanted to . . .you know before I left. ”

Gwen barked at him.

“ You are running away with your girlfriend? Are you getting stupider? You're 13 what do you have packed in that bad 20 dollars in quarters stuffed in an old sock ? How far do you think you'll get with miss perfect? ”

Ben to his credit ignored her insults.

“ Listen I just wanted to talk to you before I left that's all. I'll be back I promise. ”

She watched him walk off into the night totally numb.

“ Even Ben. ”

In a fit of rage Gwen kicked what she thought was a rock, and saw light reflect off the circular face of the Omnitrix.

“ Must have fallen out of his bag. ”

**

The pulled into the parking lot.

“ When he got there Kai's Mom was having a fit and pulled a ray gun or something. Ben was sneaking over and he got covered in some blue powder. I wasn't there and he got hurt because of it. Grandpa showed up about a half an hour later and got her in hand cuffs. He told our parents they where making meth or something. Ben got sent to the hospital for a few days, and spent the summer in his room. ”

Kevin pulled off his ID mask , and tried to be sympathetic.

“ I don't see how any of this was on you. I'm guessing you even hid the watch for him. ”

“ That's sympathetic . . for Kevin. ” She thought.

“ If I'd just told someone it wouldn't have happened. Kai met Ben that summer he got the watch and saw him use it, he told me later she kept asking him about it. I bet you shes back because someone called “Ben 10” fought an alien in the park a few months ago. I feel so bad about it, Ben tired to be there for me and I was just to wrapped up in myself to be there for him. ”

Kevin kind of looked off in the distance for a second before talking.

“ What can I say you get a reputation and sooner or later the wrong kind of people want to be your friend. I still don't see how this was on you, but anyway we find the bouncer we find Cardigan. ”


The pair moved to the door of what looked like a dark warehouse. Getting close their was faint tingling sensation as they passed though a low level cloaking field. Two green skinned aliens stood outside smoking and the music was rattling the windows. Kevin tapped a door panel and a hologram of a blue skinned Tetramand appeared, and spoke.

“ Here are the rules, follow em or get out! One no screwing with the cloaking field. Two you buy from the house or else. If the house ain't sellin' it to bad. Three if an employee tell you somethin' you listen or else. ”

It flickered a bit before finishing.

“ Two drink minimum enjoy. ”

Gwen spoke as the door opened.

“ Blackthorn I'm guessing. ”

“ Oh yea, this guy is some rich mans pit bull. Who I got no clue, so we get in get the info and get out. ”

Entering the place the air smelled like sweat and alien incense. Music that was a remix of j-pop to alien punk echoed in every room. An odd mix of aliens half aliens and synthetic lifeforms danced the night away, as Kevin took Gwen by the hand. The pair made their way through the crowd in the general direction of the bar. Gwen tried to talk over the noise.

“ Don't bouncers normally hang out at the door? ”

“ Here no way! I . . . .they some how got an antimatter cannon over there! ”

As they finally got near the bar half of it exploded and the booming voice of Romboid Vreedle echoed over the music!

“ My best friend done told you he can't get drunk he's Irish! ”

Gwen opened her eyes to find Kevin shielding her with his metal and stone body. Looking over her boyfriends shoulder and saw one of the Vreedles standing on whats left of the bar next to what was either a Leprechaun or a midget in a Leprechaun costume. Octagon Vreedle tried to calm his brother.

“ Now 'Boid we have discussed this before, just because someone looks like the picture on your cereal box doesn't mean that they are an old acquaintance. Now put the midget down and . . ”

The larger alien screamed and began firing into the crowd at random.

“ MIDGET IS A DIRTY WORD HE IS A LITTLE PERSON!!! ”

The next thing Gwen knew Kevin was laying on top of her and crushing the air out of her.

“ Kevin get off me I'll just make a shield! ”

“ Keep down, he gets confused some times! ”

Through the smoke, a huge hulking four armed figure emerged wearing of all things a plaid suit with a pink bow tie. He spoke.

“ How many times I got to tell you two no Vreedles allowed! ”

Octagon sounded more confused then normal.

“ Seeing as this is our first visit to this here establishment I don't see how we could have received any such message. ”

Blackthorn's voice boomed back.

“ That's cuz you'z two always end up in the dumpster out back! Now cuz you been warned or the last set of clones where . . . no wait it was three sets a clones ago warned the rest just AAAAA HECK I HATE VREEDLES! ”

'Boid jumped off the bar and tried to elbow drop him, only to get caught buy this head in one of the bouncers massive hands. The Tetramand slammed 'Boid into the floor with a force that made the ground seem to jump up and slam into Gwen's face. She'd had enough, and rolled Kevin off her letting the halo vanish as her hand raised .

“ Hay two tones of fun! Amorous Infecta! ”

The monsters four yellow eyes got wide as he dropped 'Boid and walked over to her.

“ Hay pretty thing, whats your sign? ”

Gwen didn't even pretend it was anything but mind control.

“ Mobuis dealer named Cardigan, WHERE DO I FIND HIM? ”

“ Oooo to bad he got voided by that guy with that Omni-thingy that took out Vilgax yesterday. Say you like a drink? ”

Gwen faked a smile.

“ No but I'd love to watch you fight those guys some more! ”

The giant went back to work on 'Boid, and Octagon spoke.

“ Now that just ain't right. ”

Gwen grabbed Kevin by the arm and headed for the door. He screamed at her.

“ Are you insane if he'd been wearing a dampener, or if the telepathic bartender wasn't out cold we'd be fighting the whole place?! ”

“ Then we got lucky, now shut up and move! This means he lied to us! ”

The hurried to the car and Kevin pealed out while kicking in the cloaking field on the car, as Gwen started throwing the contents of his glove box around looking for his badge.

“ Were is it I am going to forget he's 65 I swear! ”

Kevin tried to calm her down, but was rapidly loosing it himself.

“ Gwen cool down! If Max was with him yesterday he just doesn't want you to see Ben in a detox field! That ain't pretty ! ”

The com on Kevin badge kicked in and her grand fathers face appeared. She sounded a bit calmer.

“ Gwen you look upset whats wrong? ”

“ Ben put Kai's dealer in the null void yesterday. Ben can't do that Grandpa only you can, where is he? ”

The old man sounded world weary.

“ Gwen listen I sent them both the Plumber training satellite in orbit because when the Mobius beetles hatch and get out into an ecosystem its bad. I can tell your angry. . . ”

The badge went dark and Gwen turned it off. The car was silent for a good five minutes before Kevin spoke.

“ The eggs, that's what the blue stuff is, get into the brain. Then they wait until they reach saturation or you you stop taking it long enough then they hatch and start eating. The bugs produce a enzyme that increased neural activity so you don't notice what missing till the final stage. They used it to control Galavan techs before they rebelled. That's why they engineered the null void so the bugs can't exist there, it's the only cure really. Ben would have to roll around in mountain of it to be that bad Gwen so . . .”

Gwen spoke in a cold tone of voice.

“ This isn't right, he'd have told me if this was all it was. I know Ben there is something else here I just know it. I've always tried to be there for him after what happened. That summer we saw the REAL world everyone else can't see or ignores. Grandpa Max is great but you rally can't tell you Grandfather some stuff, so it was just US really. Without Ben, I'd I wouldn't know anything about so much that defines my whole life now. I thought we where like . . .”

Kevin sounded like he was annoyed but trying to be sympathetic.

“ You did hate this Kai girl Gwen. ”

“ Sympathetic for Kevin. ” She thought.

“ . . .I need to get into orbit Kevin. . . If you want to drop me off I'll call Julie and borrow ship. You don't have to follow me around on this anymore. ”

He was silent for a good two minutes before speaking.

“ The garage is 20 minutes away, Julies is 45 we'll go to my place. ”

**

About the time they exited the Van Allen belt Gwen could pick up Ben's Manna, that told her this was almost over. She looked around at the ship Kevin was still borrowing from that guy on the moon, and wondered if it was considered stolen yet. Ben told her about the trip he and Kevin made to Coda Coda, like he told her about everything. It was nice to know what Kevin thought from an outside perspective of “guy talk”.

Gwen wondered if after today Kevin still felt the same.

The ship landed in the docking bay, and she moved to the airlock as her boyfriend spoke.

“ Space suits Gwen, Mobius . . . you get . . . there is a lot of it out there trust me. ”

A minute later they where in the same Arachnichimp space suites they used on the moon, and wondering into a mostly dark space station. After a while they started to notice a fine red powder coating the floor. Kevin commented.

“ Mobius and it's dead or spoiled or whatever. Totally useless for a anyone I'd say it's a good sign but there is a lot of it. ”

Resisting the urge to ask where it was all coming from for fear she'd already guessed Gwen just kept walking. Reaching a room with a what looked like a 70s fridge and couches that she assumed was the rec-room, they finally found Ben sitting in the middle of the floor holding Kai tightly. The girl was caked with red powder. Kai seemed to notice Gwen and Kevin and smiled blankly in there general direction. From behind them Azmeth's voice sounding tired filled the room.

“ At last perhaps you two can talk some sense into him. My The Mobius parasite was used against my people extensively before we gained our freedom. As such we created an implant that generates an energy field lethal to the creatures. My Omnitrix creates a field several times stronger when it reconsigns the DNA of the creatures. After so many years of exposure this girls higher brain functions are just useless without them. ”

Gwen took off her helmet and knelt down in the dust next to Ben. Kevin picked up an old Galvan as politely as he could without saying a word and walked out in the hall.

“ See here you put me down this instant you. . . ”

“ Relax we are just giving them a minute. ”

“ I don't understand this girl is effectively deceased even if her lower brain is still functioning. I've explained this! ”

“ Dude for a smart guy you're acting pretty stupid. Relax Gwen's got this one.”

They could hear Ben crying in the next room.

“ Gwen I tired to save her and I killed her. ”



End

[datdude]

It strikes me that because I've got Ben and Gwen joined at the hip I'll need to go a different way when it's Ben's turn for one of these. I have in fact flat out said this was the only time Gwen wasn't there for him. In keeping with that if he's got any other skeletons in his closet Gwen is in fact even either in on or Ben's not as tight with her as she is with him.

Seeing as I don't see Ben being that kind of fellow ( ego aside he's not a bad guy ).

I'm thinking I've got a Gwen story and a Kevin story focusing on the past rearing it's ugly head, and if i want the matched set ( and i do) I'm going to need to set Ben's in the present. Something that will in the future come back to bit him.