Notes: So...it's been a really long time, and, for that, I apologize. I've been moving and staying still and forgetting, until recently, how much I loved writing for this site. I've also found my OTP in the Naruverse, and have been working on a one shot for all of you Naruto/Gaara fans out there. As always, all reviews, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Let's get to it.

Gwen had done this so many times since meeting her and Ben's long-lost alien Grandmother. But, even now, it scared her to death. It could be seconds, or minutes, or hours, or, in some cases, even days before she tracked Verdona down in the vast cosmos of space. She had hoped that the latter wasn't the case.

As she meditated there on the dock, her back perfectly poised, her lips moving of their own accord, muttering an incantation that she'd so easily memorized, her body slowly and ever-so slightly lifted off of the wooden planks. In the past, she made a note to always do this kind of thing in a location that she was certain was secure; private. If anyone were to wander by, she would have some explaining, or in the case of the first such time this had happened, memory erasing, to do. And she really didn't have the time for that…again.

The Tennyson Anodite scoured Verdona's home planet quickly, thankfully finding her Grandmother and mentor in her own home. It seemed like she was searching for someone as well.

"I've been looking for you!" the energy being smiled into Gwen's thoughts.

"Thank God-

"That being that you thank so often doesn't exist, dear." Verdona reminded her, as per usual.

"Right. Well, Ben and Kevin are in the Null V-

"Searching for your Grandfather, I understand. Well, their trials are not your own, darling. Why did you really contact me?"

Gwen cursed her mind for being so vulnerable recently, and for Verdona taking full advantage of the fact. Of course, her grandmother already knew what had been troubling her- she only let Gwen retell it as a way to vent her frustrations.

When she had finished Gwen felt, rather than heard, the Anodite let out a deep sigh, and something told the brunette that her Grandmother knew exactly what she had been going through…and that whatever it was, it wasn't about to let up.

"I apologize, dear, for not telling you sooner.. In my defense, most of our kind wait years after their full awakening to take on a mate. And, even then-

"What? Grandma, I don't understand- I haven't taken a- a mate. And what does any of that have to do with these visions?" Gwen was growing exasperated by her Grandmothers frequent assumption that she made any sense at all to the younger.

"Well, you're obviously in love, then, dearie, or we wouldn't be having this conversation. Please, let me explain. What you're seeing are the worst possible visions of the future of man. Of everything. It is a test of your will- of the strength needed to cope with the prospect of forever. Now, tell me, love, who is the lucky inferior whom you have deemed-

Gwen let out a noise somewhere between anger and tears.

"I'm not. I- I don't! This is-

"Insane? Of course it is, but so is the idea that you, someone so obviously special, should choose a mere human as your partner." At this Verdona giggled lightly, and, upon feeling her Granddaughters tears, stopped.

"Baby?"

"I can't, Verdona. You don't understand, but I can't. Not now."

The Null Void was a desolate, dark, and, most of all, isolated reality. Of course, Kevin knew this, having been placed in the interdimensional prison by none other than Ben Tennyson, years ago. But his prior knowledge of this place, like a virus, didn't stop the memories from flooding his mind with its poison.

He fought the urge to call out for the boy he followed, realizing that they were no longer alone, and frantically floated from one large asteroid to the next, hoping to catch a glimpse of the green leather jacket that Ben was so fond of. He had been a second too late; knowing that Ben had intended on entering the void alone, and that he was, most likely, hiding from him.

Damn

Well, there's nothing left but to search for him…he's got the only way out of this place, after all.

Ben was moving fast and low, under the cover of the enormous meteor debris that seemed to litter this part of the Null Void. He was in no mood to run into any of the prisoners, most of whom he himself had sentenced to an eternity of nothingness, or, even more so, Kevin.

Kevin…

Why was it that the older boy seemed so intent on keeping him close? Ben couldn't recall a day or more recently that he had been without Kevin…and he kept having these strange dreams. If he didn't know better, he could swear he'd even heard Kevin call his name, somewhat distantly, in his sleep.

Ben just couldn't shake him. Couldn't shake his presence, or the thoughts or him, or that gruff, nagging, warning voice that usually accompanied thoughts of the muscle-bound boy. And, not that he was complaining, he loved Kevin to death, but it was starting to really irk him.

It's not like we're dating…but, maybe we are. Maybe this is Kevin's idea of dating. It's not like we've even discussed-

A sharp pain to the chest complemented Ben's inner turmoil. Caught off-guard, the Xenomorph quickly regained his footing and scanned the area for signs of other life. The Omnitrix was going crazy; small blips on it's radar made themselves known, and the hero found himself suddenly surrounded.

Kevin was breathing harder now, leaping from rock to rock, having long abandoned his previous plan of following without the risk of detection. He felt like…well he wasn't sure what he felt, but he knew that Ben was in trouble; he had, in the past, come to terms with his baffling 'Tennysense', as he'd affectionately dubbed it.

Ever since that first meeting in Manhattan all of those years ago, Kevin found that he could feel them in trouble. He smirked to himself. As strange as it had sounded in his own head all of those months ago, it did nothing for him to explain it to Gwen, who laughed, naturally.

"I'm serious, Gwen!" he was fuming, half standing, half crouched in the doorframe of the female Tennyson's room. When he'd come to press her for any answers that he'd thought she might've have, or been able to acquire, he wasn't planning on her flippant attitude towards the subject. "I know….I know…", she blurted between giggles.

Kevin's eyes narrowed to a dangerous degree, and Gwen suddenly found more amusement in something near her feet.

Kevin sighed then. He wasn't used to conveying emotions like worry and…fear, and Gwen was making him feel like a small child again; the confusion in finding out he was different, an outcast, all over again.

"It's like a sixth sense I have for the two of you. Sometimes, I even think I can feel your.. Heart beating. Both of them. And mine!"

At this, Gwen was reduced to her previous hysterics, all but falling over herself at the coal-eyed boys words.

"How very eloquent."

"Umph!" Kevin was caught unawares and knocked to the surface of a large obelisk. During the commotion, he managed to slip a hand in his pocket and grab hold of the small, titanium orb. He raised a quick elbow, effectively ridding his body of the extra weight of his attacker. As he turned, Kevin recognized a flash of green leather, closely followed by Ben's voice, as the younger boy collided with him again, wrapping his arms securely around his midsection.

"Ben?"

"Kev- I'm being followed- be careful!" The brunet wheezed.

"Well then, what are you holding onto me for? Go Hero- we can take em…"

It was then that the older boy noticed the gaping hole in his partners chest, and the blood that flowed so freely from it. Ben followed Kevin's eyes and winced, attempting a smirk.

"It's not as bad as it seems. The omnitrix is on the fritz again, and-

"No. Forget it, Benji; I came in here for you. Let's go. Now."

The tone in Kevin's voice left the smaller boy no room to argue. Ben sighed, and started to set up the Null Void Projector, stumbling into Kevin's waiting arms as he did so.

"Ben-

"Cover us; I can do this myself!" Ben whined and began to reverse the dials on the small, metal box. Kevin did as he was told, taking up his fighting stance, eyes dancing every-which-way.

"Got it!" Ben cried in triumph, gasping when he felt Kevin lift him off of his feet and carry him, running, through the portal back home.