Disclaimer: I have a tendency to not own Ben 10 because Man of Action. Thanks guys. Really.

A/N: Sigh. I was in the middle of typing down Imperfection on my iPod Touch when the damn storm broke off internet connection. SO I'm very pissed as I typed, but at least it's a little somethin', somethin' to get my mind off of the DAMN STORM THAT PRACTICALLY PREVENTED ME PUBLISHING MY CHAPTER OF IMPERFECTION DAMMIT. (ahem) So anyway. Let's move on shall we? :D

Baby Steps

Chapter 1: The Ultrasound

Kevin muttered a few southern Viridian-Osmosian, American, Spanish and French swearwords under his breath as he pulled into the hospital parking grounds. The parking meter guy looked at him wearily, noting Kevin's hastiness (and his Plumber's uniform) and let him pass. The first and second floors were booked, and the hospital floor he needed to be was the second. He swore a bit louder, slamming on the brakes as he parked in the closet spot he could grab on the third floor. He growled, throwing his heavy jacket on and marched to the elevator, punching in the 2 button.

If his boss wasn't such an ass-wipe, he wouldn't be in such a hurry. " 'I don't care if you're late to your little appointment Magister Levin,'" he mimicked in his boss's grumbly voice, crossing his arms. " 'You're getting this ship done. Until then, you're free to go.' Wouldn't even let me change, damn bastard…" It was eighty degree weather, and it was the hottest time of the day. The Plumber work uniform required a dark navy blue long sleeve shirt with the Plumber's insignia on his chest, black leather pants, combat boots, and a utility belt, stuffed with hand held weapons and his badge. The Plumber code directed all Plumbers to not wear their uniforms in public unless it was for a mission or an emergency, so he had thrown on the first thing he could find: a black, heavy leather jacket with felt lining. Gwen had bought it for his birthday and he appreciated it. It fit him perfectly, really roguish and bad boyish. Kevin figured out it was apparently designer, which only made it better.

But in eighty degrees, bordering on ninety, it was just freaking ridiculous.

Kevin stepped out of the elevator, making way for a happy elderly couple. He noticed the woman had a slight bump, his eyebrows shooting up. Huh. Strange how old people can still have kids. Was the kid going to see them with wrinkles and arthritis when they were five? Two? Kevin shook his head. This was too depressing to think about.

He ran to the desk, got his visitor pass and ran to the room he was late to. Kevin swooped in, freezing in his tracks. Gwen was laughing along with the nurse, obviously joking about Kevin's lateness. Gwen looked up, grinning. "Speaking of the devil. Hey Kevin, you're all sweaty. Come 'ere." She waved him over and he sat next to her. Gwen took his hand and he realized how clammy his hand was against her soft, cool one. Kevin relaxed a bit.

"Can you close the door so I can take this damned jacket off?" he sighed with relief, slightly panting after running and being in the heat for so long. The nurse smiled and closed the door. Kevin shook out of his jacket and held Gwen's hand again, running his thumb against an almost visible blue line on her pale hand. "Sorry I'm late babe. Kowalski kept me late. Had me fix the engine to a broken ship. It wasn't even my fault too, it was damn Gervene's. Didn't check the engine, like I told him to. It started sputtering and smoking as soon as it started going."

"I know, I know," she sighed. "Don't worry about it, you're fine."

As the anger dissolved, Kevin looked around, taking in the normal hospital room. For the past few months of Gwen's pregnancy, the Plumbers had to check her to make sure babies One and Two were healthy enough for birth. Since Gwen and Kevin's genetic codes were off two different human-alien hybrids, the babies were certain to have some sort of genetic mutation, good or bad. They had ultrasounds, but there weren't any pictures, and Kevin and Gwen couldn't see anything. It was more like a CAT scan than an ultrasound.

When Gwen and Kevin were given the thumbs up, they wanted a real ultrasound, so they could see their children. Gwen and Kevin had playfully debated the possibilities. Two girls (Kevin: "Ugh, not only do I have to mess with one woman in PMS, now I have to mess with two?"), two boys (Gwen: "Ugh, the testerone would be throbbing in the house…") and a more subtle and peaceful one boy and one girl. The names would be hilarious. They decided they would continue the rhyme time theme, mixing Levin and Tennysons together. Genevieve, Devlin, Lynn, Jennifer, Sven…the possibilities were endless.

"OK, now just roll up your shirt so I can put some of this on ya," the nurse instructed, holding a tub of blue gel. She had a homely southern accent that warmed them up. Gwen did as instructed and the nurse slathered on the cool gel on Gwen's swollen stomach, laughing lightly as Gwen jumped at the cool temperature. Kevin couldn't help but stare at her belly, knowing his two kids were in there. It amazed him. "Now, if you two look at the screen, you'll be able to see them."

Kevin and Gwen looked at the 60 inch HD flat screen hanging in the corner. The nurse turned off the lights, the glowing of the computer next to Gwen providing a glow to the room. On the left of the screen, there were difficult looking measurements and things that Kevin didn't understand what they were for. The nurse put a wand on her stomach and gently pressed down, moving it. Gwen and Kevin gasped collectively. "There's one. A baby girl," the nurse smiled warmly. Gwen and Kevin watched as the outline of the baby girl's head moved, the screen shifting to a moving arm.

Gwen winced as she felt a kick. And as she did, the baby's leg moved. She laughed. "Yes, I see you honey," she cooed. "Jennifer, Lynn, Genevieve… Oh, Jennifer Lynn maybe?"

"I don't know about that," Kevin grinned. His eyes widened as he noticed that he sounded choked up. His eyes watered. Gwen looked at him, shocked but in awe at the same time.

"K…Kevin? Are you alright?"

Kevin looked away, the burning in his eyes almost painful. He blinked, the treacherous tears leaking down his face, hot and wet. He pursed his lips and gulped, his throat burning as well. He watched the screen as the nurse searched and Gwen stared at him, watching his expression as if she was studying like she used to in high school. Observant and focused.

"Ah, here's the other one. C'mon move your leg honey, I can't see you…ah." The nurse giggled. "Twig and berries. A boy. Congratulations you two. A boy and a girl."

Kevin was overwhelmed by images in his mind. A little auburn haired beauty with pink cheeks and curious jade eyes giggling with a raven haired boy in their parents' arms. The two fighting over a toy. The two sleeping peacefully in a crib together after an hour of feeding them, changing their diapers and rocking them to sleep. The two listening to a bed time story, listening to their mother's soft voice, or their strong, joking father's. Then learning how to drive a car, graduating, college, grandchildren…it overwhelmed him…

"Kevin, baby, are you alright?" Gwen gasped. The strength on his hand tightened. She seemed scared now. "Kevin are you…oh. Oh Kevin," she sighed, a grin breaking her features. "You're going to be such a good father." She began to laugh with the nurse and then held his hand silently as the nurse typed in calculations on the computer, putting in the babies' lengths and weights, capturing pictures on the screen.

Kevin kissed Gwen on the cheek, tears dropping onto Gwen's face, warming her air conditioned skin. "Thank you babe. Thank you…for everything."

A/N: Just a little somethin' somethin' til Surrogate comes out :D REVIEWS PLZ?