It was early Thursday night and Ben was tired. It didn't matter that it was only seven all he wanted to do was get to his room say hi to his roommates and sleep until tomorrow when he could pick up Mal for their breakfast date. Three straight days of away meetings,he welecomed the change in scenery from campus, but his girl is here. Luckily he got changed into his jeans yellow tshirt, and blue zip up hoodie after his last meeting today. It's been three months since his coronation, and he as well as Aradon Prep's newest students couldn't be happier. As he reached the door to his room he sighed before unlocking the door and entering. He glanced up as he left his suitcase by the door. "Hey guys, Evie, what's up?" He asked as walked farther into his room. He received a nod from Jay on his bed with his laptop open most likely doing recon on the team they were facing in Tourney next week. Carlos turned around from his video game long enough to tell him that his mail and absentee work was on the table. He was looking through his mail just to make sure that nothing needed his immediate attention when he realized that Evie was playing with Dude on a matress on the ground in between carlos and Jay's beds. "Eves are you sleeping here? Did you and Mal get in a fight?" He asked using Evie's newly acquired nickname from Doug that spread through the group. Evie looked up from Dude looking guilty. "No, not exactly, I mean yes I've been crashing here, but me and Mal are fine." she said glancing at Jay and Carlos the three all now sharing in the guilty look. "Alright, guys what's up?" It came out more as a mild command when no one gave him answer and they all continued to look at each other Ben's anger made itself known. "Alright someone tell me what the hell is going on before I make chad's outburst over his hair when someone messes it up look small." He yelled knowing that would get their attention. If anyone touched Chad's hair he freaked out and if you really messed with it you could almost hear him through the whole school. "Ok don't freak out." Carlos started Jay picking up for him. "Mal is sick, and she doesn't want any of us around." Ben suddenly felt like an idiot there was a serious time delay in her texts when he was away, and the last few times he'd gone on overnight trips either as king or for a Tourney game she called every night, she told him hearing his voice calmed her she didn't like when he left it makes her nervous. Now that he thinks about it her voice calms him just as much but when he didn't hear from her he figured she was with Evie, baking non magical desserts, or she got lost in her sketchbook. He should've known he threw his head back with a sigh. "Normally when this happens she likes to ride it out by herself. She thinks having us around to help makes her weak. One of us goes and checks on her every two hours, to check her temperature make sure she hasn't gotten sick or anything. She didn't want us to tell you at all but she said especially while you were gone. She didn't want you to worry." Evie explained Ben nodded then he looked back at her. "wait , you said normally. How often does she get sick?" he asked already knowing his plan just to sleep was not going to be as easy as he was hoping. "For as long as I can remember every couple of months, you can always tell when she's about to get sick she begins to sleep like a rock. But I don't remember the last time it was this bad or lasted this long, I mean she threw up, is coughing, she said her head hurt and she has a fever, but like I said I don't remember the last time it was like this. the past couple of years she's kinda grown a tolerance." Evie said. "And she's never seen a doctor?" Ben asked, Jay got up from his bed. "There weren't a lot doctors on the isle and Mal's mom was not really the 'my kid is i'll make you feel feel better I promise' type." he informed him. "Except for the time where she did, and the doctor did more harm than good." Carlos added Ben gave him an inquisitive look. "The doctor didn't know how to help so he just gave her a whole bunch of shots that weren't supposed to go together and it made her worse. She hasn't really liked doctors since. " He explained Ben nodded in understanding, then he looked confused. "You all had to see a doctor after you came to Auradon?" Ben questioned knowing how their arrival and living arrangements were set up. "she signed up last then keeps rescheduling it." Evie explains, again Ben nods his head in understanding. Then grabbing his dorm key he made his way to the door. "Where are you going?" asked Jay Ben looked back and answered "Where do you think?" He asked back before walking out and closing the door behind him. As he was running across campus he quickly ran into the campus grocery store and picked up the few things he knew he would need, then ran the rest of the way to his destination.
After what felt like hours Ben finally reached the door he quietly entered the room, set the bag down, and closed the door with a barely audible click. There lying with her back to him in a ball was his purple haired princess. She was curled up in a ball with her back to him blankets pulled up to her knees. Her hair in a messy bun, her new favorite black yoga pants keeping her legs warm, he smiled at her clad in the blue jersey with the golden name Ben and number 7. Smirking he silently removed his sneakers and walked over to her bed. He laid down bringing her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her her fingers lacing through his. She immediately knew who joined her, he laid his head on top of hers to feel how hot she was. She sniffled. "I like you wearing my number." he whispered and kissed her temple before laying his head down again. "It makes me feel safe and like you aren't far away when you're gone." came her weak and raspy voice he could tell that her throat. "I told them not to tell you or let you come." she said, secretly trying to find a way to kill them when she got better. "Do you really think I would be anywhere else? Why didn't you call me?" he asked she could hear the hurt in his second question. " I didn't want you to worry." she explained he sighed and began turning her so he could look at her she followed his lead. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose red from all the tissues she had used, he could hear the cough in her voice, his heart broke a little bit seeing her beautiful green eyes water. "How do you feel?" he asked softly. "Shitty." came her soft whine of a reply. "I'm hot then cold, I have coughing fits every time I think i'm close to sleep, my nose is runny, I have bees buzzing in my head, my bones ake,I'm not hungry, i'm tired and I haven't seen my boyfriend in days and I can't even kiss him because I'm sick." she says in that sad miserable sick voice that everyone has. Again Ben sighed, he brought her into his side her head immediately going to its favorite spot in the crook of his neck. She inhaled his scent he placed a kiss on her forehead and her hand that was resting on his chest suddenly grasped the fabric of his shirt making it obvious to him that she needed him. "I missed you too Baby." he said as his hand that wasn't around her waist holding her to him came to the one grasping at the yellow fabric and held it there just let her know he knew.
For a couple who would seem like they'd hate the pet name portion of the relationship. They actually loved it, Mal loved it. The names were just another way to show that she had been changed since meeting Ben. It was special for the two it made them feel safe and secure, to have a list of names that they could call each other.
"You should go." she said after a few minutes of silence. "What?" he asked with a chuckle. "You should go." she said again. "And why would I go?" he asked. "Ben I don't want want you to get sick because of me." she said not moving from her spot curled in his side. "I take my immune support supplements everyday. I'm not worried about it." he told her. "Ben that doesn't mean you won't get sick." She told him pointing out the obvious. "I'm not going." He said. "But Ben-" she started. "Mal. we both know this right here is your favorite place, both of ours favorite spot, and you're sick. I'm not leaving. So shut up." he said with a smile in his voice. "Ok fine." Mal conceded snuggling impossibly closer into his side. "Good. now, sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." he said leaving no room for discussion. She snuggled in closer to him one final time and he matched his breathing to hers only when he knew was asleep did he let himself fall asleep too.
"Ben?" Mal woke up alone but the place where Ben was sleeping underneath her head was warm. "There you are Green Eyes." his voice came from by the door. He picked up the bag and walked to the bed. "What time is it?" she asked as he grabbed a few things from the bag. "About 11:30." he said walking to her. "Past curfew." Mal said with a gleam in her eye. "Yea well, you know I'm not as perfect of a king as everybody thinks." He said with a matching gleam. Their relationship to the public is nothing but an extreme case of puppy love but they were the the only people that knew how serious the two were. They were the only ones that knew that after a rough day Ben's favorite thing was get lost in a majorly heavy make out session and that Ben is actually quite possessive, not in a way that would bug Mal, but in a way that could definitely have consequences for a third party. They're the only two that know that Mal will spend hours with her hands running through Ben's hair while talking about life on the Isle, and that Ben's the only one who gets to look at her sketchbook, the sketchbook that's not for the art class he secretly signed her up for. Mal nodded with a smile, before whimpering at the movement. The gleam in his eyes disappeared. "Alright hold this under your tongue." he told her holding out a thermometer, she took it and followed directions. As he waited for the beep from the thermometer he poured the cough syrup into the cup, the thermometer beeped and Mal took it out of her mouth. "101.5." she read, he sighed took the thermometer from her, and held out the cup. "Drink this." He said she shook her head and squishing up her face. "Mal." Warning starting to slip into his voice. "Ben, I've never needed medicine before, I don't need it now." She said trying to get out of taking it just then she went into a coughing fit. Ben gave her a pointed look. "It hurts to swallow." she admits looking down at her black painted nails. Changing his tacktick he crouches down in front of her so she's taller sitting on the bed. "Its strawberry flavored." he said in a voice knowing that it's her favorite. Caving in she she to the cup and threw her head back scrunching up her face she handed the cup back to him. "That. Does. NOT. Taste. Like. Strawberries." she said punctuating every word making it clear that she was mad that he lied. Looking guilty knowIng that although the cough syrup was strawberry flavored it tasted nothing like real strawberries he held out a singular strawberry and a bottled water. "It will help get the taste out of your mouth." He told her softly. Her glance moved from his eyes to the strawberry and water before taking them from him. She took a small bite of the strawberry then placed it on the nightstand and took an equally small sip of the water. Ben looked from the strawberry that was only missing its tip to his green eyed girlfriend slightly sad. Normally he'd be trying to take them out of her hands so that she could chew the one that she had in her mouth. "It really hurts to swallow and I'm really not hungry." She told him while moving to lay down and sleep, he nodded in understanding. " sleep. I'll wake you up when it's time to take your medicine again." He told her as he sat in a chair in the corner in the room. He texted the group chat to give their friends an update, emailed Fairy Godmother telling her that neither Mal or himself would be in class the next day, and sent a quick text to his parents letting them know that he was back at school. When he looked up Mal was asleep. He sat up and watched her sleep for awhile just thinking about how far they had come before falling asleep for an hour. He woke to her coughing, he could hear the difference they were more gentle than they had been but not by much. He got up and walked over to her bed, he brushed the hair out of her face then he brought the desk chair next to the bed, sat, and began to rub her back in circles. It was what his parents used to do when he was sick.
That's how she woke up the next morning with Ben rubbing circles on her back. She turned around and smiled at him, he smiled back. "Hi." She greeted he moved a stray hair from her face. "Hey. how you feeling?" He asked looking into her eyes, she shrugged with a smile. She vaguely remembers him waking her up just long enough for her to take her medicine, and him saying her fever was going down. "Did you sleep at all last night?" she asked, it was his turn to smile and shrug. "Ben." Mal said, her voice still raspy in warning. "I'm not tired." he said, she took off the blankets and stood up next to him. She was about to get mad. "Woah." she said her hand flew to her head. Ben wrapped his arm round her waist, he helped her sit down on the bed. "Head rush." Mal explained, Ben sighed. "You need to eat." He walked over to the mini fridge. "B I'm really not hungry." Again Ben walked up to her holding a water bottle and a strawberry. "Oh no! I'm not taking that disgusting stuff for a third time." she said scrunching up her face. "Oh yes you are. You don't have a choice." he said he gave her the water and strawberry. He poured her medicine, annoyed she opened her mouth, he put the cup to her lips, and she tilted her head back the took a small bite of the strawberry and a bigger sip of water than last night. "It still hurts a lot but I did take a bigger bite." she reasons with him, he nods, and she got back under the covers. There was a knock on the door he opened the door, thanked someone and returned to the bed with a plate of fruit and saltines, he handed her the plate she looked at the grapes, crackers, watermelon, cantaloupe, and peaches. The all looked great but she was confused. "No strawberries?" she asked. "We have them already, eat." He said and she did. Then she fell asleep, to Ben rubbing her back. Again Ben texted the group an update.
12:30
Mal was still asleep Ben had since stopped rubbing her back, and he was going through pictures on his phone, his life had changed for the better since Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos had arrived. He knew that Doug, Lonnie, Aubry, Chad and Jane all felt the same. Ben now had real friendships that he would not trade for anything. He looked up when heard a whine. Ben jumped from his chair and felt her head. Knowing immediately that her temperature rose higher than acceptable to stay in the dorm room he picked her up blankets and all and ran to the local hospital ten minutes away.
The second he entered the emergency room it was a storm of craziness. He ran to the front desk. "King Ben." The nurse said surprised. "Hi. this is my girlfriend Mal, she's been sick for a few days I came back yesterday night I've been with her since about 7:30 last night I gave her cough syrup it helped but the fever must have spiked up again. Someone needs to help her." he said rushed without ever really pausing to take a breath, right after that two nurses, one male one female, came with a gurney and he placed her on it with a kiss on her head. He tried to follow but the tall male nurse with short brown spiky hair and brown eyes kept him back. "King Ben. please stay here, Jackie has paperwork for you to fill out, Mandy and I will look at your girlfriend and I will come get you the second I can." the male nurse told him, Ben nodded. They wheeled her down hall. Jackie handed him a clipboard. He took it with a quick smile, then sat down in the waiting room and called the one person he knew needed to know. "Ben how's Mal?" evie answered. "We're at the hospital. Her fever spiked." He told her. "You took her to the doctor? Is she ok?" Evie's concerned voice was heard. "Ah they haven't come come to get me yet. She was asleep when I brought her in." he told her. "Should we come? do you need anything?" she asked, that is so Evie, her best friend is in the hospital and she is asking him if he needs anything. "If you want to come by I'm sure it will be ok, and no, I'm good. I'm gonna fill out this paperwork, then grab some coffee. Thank you though." Ben explained. Evie said that they would stop by after classes, Ben filled out paperwork, and grabbed a cup of coffee. He was sitting staring at the styrofoam coffee cup when he heard his name. "King Ben." it was the male nurse who had told him to wait. He stood. "How's Mal?" He asked, the nurse smiled quickly at Ben's concern." I'm Nick, i'm your girlfriends primary nurse. Her fever is 103.5, we' but her on an IV drip, she's asleep, she's dehydrated-" Nick was describing, but Ben cut him off. "She ate fruit this morning, she didn't have an appetite she said it hurt to swallow so she didn't really drink much." Ben explained Nick nodded in understanding. "If you want to go see her you can, I'll be back to check on her in about an hour. Room 109." he said Ben nodded with a small bow of a head Nick walked away. "Hey Nick." Ben called. Nick turned around and raised an eyebrow. "Its Ben. Just Ben." he said, Nick nodded and walked off. Ben walked to Mal's room and sat down next to her bed.
Mal woke up an hour later confused, noticing the movement in her hand that he was holding, he immediately sprang into boyfriend mode. "Hey. Hey there Beautiful." he said in a soothing voice rubbing the back of her hand. "Ben? Where are we?" She asked groggily. "The hospital your fever spiked. It's ok, you don't need to worry, I'm not going anywhere." He told her in a gentle voice as he felt her tense. "Evie told you, didn't she? That I don't like doctors?" She asked in a soft slightly more awake voice. He looked down at their hands, his thumb still rubbing her hand without him noticing he was doing it. "Not details, just the basics." he said looking in her eyes. Mal immediately sat up. "I'm going to kill her. I can't believe she-" Ben put his arms on her shoulders and gently pushing her back down. "Just lay down, she was worried about you, and so am I." he said as she listened to his directions, she sighed as their fingers intertwined. "Why'd you take me here instead of the clinic at school?" she asked. "You were too warm I knew that, they would only call the hospital, I knew just by feeling your head. I felt your head and I just knew, should take you here. That and you were begging to kick, and you never kick in your sleep." He explained she nodded with a small smile at how her boyfriend knew her so well. Just then a female doctor entered. "Hi Mal, King Ben, I'm doctor Lee." She was tall, mid thirties, with long black hair and blue eyes. They both said hi. Ben was happy that the doctor was a girl, he didn't ask for one but he hoped the fact that Dr. Lee was a girl would help Mal be a little more calm. However the second Dr. Lee entered Mal became tense, and the gentle hold she had on his hand became a death grip. Dr. Lee told them that Mals fever had gone down slightly. Mal told her doctor and Ben that her throat was ninety percent better. Mal's voice no longer sounded raspy and she was talking at her normal registrar. Dr. Lee left, Nick came in shortly after just to make sure she didn't need anything. After school let out Evie, Jay and Carlos came for awhile, left, and than Mal ate dinner. Nick brought Ben a grilled cheese from the cafeteria while Mal was eating, while all this was happening Mal never once let go of Ben's hand. After Mal fell asleep, Nick came into the room."Ben can I talk to you for a minute?" Nick asked, Ben nodded with a small smile. "I was wondering when I was gonna meet Mal." Nick said Ben looked confused. " I helped with Evie, Jay, and Carlos's appointments when they came in for their check ups. Fairy Godmother thought it might be a good idea if the same doctor and nurses saw each of the kids from the Isle." Nick explained with a smile, and Ben nodded with a smile. "Speaking of which. You said that she'll probably be able to leave tomorrow afternoon would it be possible to get her check up while we're here?" Ben asked and Nick nodded with a smile "sure. She's not a fan of hospitals is she?" He asked. "No, she is not, how'd you know?" Ben asked. "She rescheduled four times." Nick said with a slight chuckle in his voice. "Ben, you need to sleep, you look like haven't slept in 24 hours." Nick warned, Ben shook his head. "I'll sleep tomorrow night." Ben said looking back to his sleeping girlfriend. "You know you aren't going to make her immune system stronger by making yours weaker." Nick said as he got up left the room only to return a moment latter with a blanket, he handed the blanket to Ben took it and put it on the bed.
There was a knock on the door Ben and Nick looked to see who it was. Evie was standing in the doorway with a smile. "I brought things for Ben, phone charger, homework…" She said trailing off, with a sigh Nick got up from his chair and walked out. "No longer than twenty minutes Evie, you have a curfew." He said in warning as he did. "You got it Nick." Evie said with a smile. "He's cool. He made sure that our checkups went at our pace." She said walking in, Ben nodded in agreement. "Yea he is." Evie came and stood next to Ben. "Hows our girl?" Evie asked. "She's getting better, the fever dropped a bit, she ate a tiny bit for dinner, and she says her throat feels better." He informed her, looking up at her, she nodded. "That's good. I brought you some homework, phone charger, Mal's phone fully charged, some king stuff, don't worry I didn't look at it, just thought you'd want this stuff if you were gonna pull an all nighter again." She said in warning she walked and put Mal's phone on the nightstand. "You can take the work back with you." Evie turned around, and with a warning look. "She hasn't been in school since Wednesday, the last thing we need is both of you behind." She said as if she were queen Belle. "Eves I'm already behind. I mean I missed two more days than Mal. I already did the work for a day and a half before I left." he says defending himself. "Exactly, look Mal gets that you have work but it doesn't mean she wants to spend all her time with you, both doing homework. And if you're gonna be up you might as well be productive." She said showing off her smarts. "Alright I'll make you a deal. You take the king stuff back to my dorm and I'll do the homework." He bargained. "Deal." she said with a smile. "Hey you went back to the dorm?" He asked, as she moved to sit in the chair Nick occupied minutes ago. "Yea, why?" She asked with a slight frown. "She gets to go home tomorrow, and Fairy Godmother said she wants to have the room cleaned tomorrow. So I was planning on taking back to back to the castle, if you and everyone wanna come over in pajamas tomorrow night we can watch a movie in the media room." Ben explained, Evie smiled she knew that he missed his friends when he worked. She also knew that Ben was doing this so that everyone could see Mal. That and they have all been so busy that they, the whole group, had barely seen each other. "I'll text everyone." Evie said with a nod of her head. "Could you pack up some clothes for her?" He asked, with a smile and a nod Evie agreed. "Yea sure and I'll bring you a change of clothes too, i'll have Carlos pack them up." she said. "Thanks. Hey do you wanna trade places? Cause if you do I can email Fairy Godmother if want." Ben knew the girls were inseparable, and that they hadn't talked in days. With a sweet smile Evie shook her head. "Thanks, but you are much better in these situations, and based on the chat you just had with Nick, Mal is getting shots tomorrow so you should just stay. Plus I don't think either one of you wants to let go of each other's hands." She said pointing to Mal and Ben's lightly linked hands on the bed. "I'll come by in the morning." she added, and walked to the bed. "Oh and Ben please try to get some sleep." she said. "Alright, thanks Eves, Bye." he said with chuckle "Bye." she gave a slight wave.
Mal woke up with a light start. She looked around and when her eyes landed on Ben she smiled. He was sitting in his chair but he was sleeping with his head on his arm on the bed, still holding her hand. She saw her phone on the nightstand and grabbed it. She took a picture making sure to get her Iv in it she then opened instagram.
Mal_4: Whether Kingly duties or Boyfriend duties he's got it covered. He hasn't left my side in three days.
She brushed his hair out of his eyes and his eyes shot open. "Hey Handsome." she said sweetly with a smile. "Morning Mal." he said with sleep in his voice. "So Nick said you get to go home today. Fairy Godmother wants to have maintenance clean your dorm before you and Evie go back to stay there again. So I was thinking why don't you come to the castle and stay the night. I'm staying there tonight too." He said getting slightly nervous. "Sure. thanks." She said with a smile. A little later Nick came and took Mal's IV out.
Evie came and brought clothes and toothbrushes and such for the couple. Ben came out of the bathroom in green converse, black jeans, a green tshirt, and a purple zip up hoodie to see his girlfriend sitting on the bed with her feet dangling off the side of the bed in flip flops, blue jeans, a yellow tshirt, and her purple hair in a messy bun. He smiled, at how innocent she looks. He stood and watched her for a second, she shivered. "Cold?" He asked as walked to her, she nodded at him with a small smile. Standing in front of her Ben takes his blue Auradon Prep hoodie out of the bag. "Arms up." He commanded Mal listened and she disappeared until her head found the headhole. "We stole eachothers colors." she said with amusement in her voice. Ben chuckled and nodded in agreement. "yea I guess we did." She smiled and placed her hands on his shoulders and jumped down. Just then Nick came to get them for Mal's check up. Nick, another nurse, and a new new doctor named Dr Anderson, ran the check up. Mal didn't take her eyes off of Ben, she took comfort in knowing that he was there. When it came time for her vaccinations. She asked Ben to sit on the bed with her and hold her hand, he did. She squeezed so hard his hands turned white while they gave her her shots she didn't take her eyes off their hands. Ben took Mal out the back when they left so no paparazzi got any pictures.
"Mom we're home." Ben called. "Kitchen!" was heard by the teens. When they entered the kitchen the teens sat at the island. A minute later queen Belle put a plate down in front of her along with a glass of water. "A peanut butter, banana, honey sandwich on toast. It was the only thing Ben would eat when he was sick, plus I threw in a few Strawberries. Cause I know they're your favorite." queen Belle said. "Thank you, I'm starving." Mal claimed, she took a big bite, she threw her head back at how good it tasted. She caught Ben staring at her. "What?" She asked. "Nothing, it's just good to see your appetite is back." He says with his boyish grin.
Later that night Ben knocked on the open guest room door, in a white tshirt and blue pajama pants with crowns on them, Mal looked up and smiled. "Come here." he said she got up and he noticed she had changed into black leggings, yellow fuzzy socks, but still wearing his hoodie with the hood up and let her hair down. He linked their hand and walked her to the media room. When she got there she just smiled at him as Doug, Lonnie, Aubry, Chad, Jane, Evie,Jay, and Carlos smiled all scattered around the room filled with pillows, blankets, and reclining chairs. "We thought we'd have a movie night." Ben said she nodded and Ben lead her to their couch complete with a purple blanket for them to share once they were both under the blanket he passed her a bowl of ice cream. "Neapolitan." she said with a smile. "With extra strawberry." Ben added as he grabbed his bowl. "What kind are you eating?" she asked looking at his bowl. "Mint chocolatechip." he informed her as she kept looking at the bowl. "You want a bite don't you?" he asked in a knowing voice. "I don't want to get you sick." she said. "Neither of us have ate yet use your spoon and take a bite." he told her watching her debate whether she wanted a bite. "You'd give me the first bite of ice cream?" she asks in her sweet can't believe it voice, he nodded sheepishly. She took a bite, Ben watched as her eyes grew at the taste. "I'll put mint chocolate ice cream on the list of foods you like." he said as he grabbed his phone and opened the notes app, Mal watched touched as he typed mint chocolate chip ice cream. "Hey." she said softly grabbing his attention. "Thank you. For the past couple of days, not leaving me by myself. Making sure that I was ok. For just being you." she said not letting her eyes leave his. He was about to say something, when she folded into his side, hiding her head in his neck but in a way that she could still see the screen. "Alright guys. Smile." Lonnie said as she held up the selfie stick. Ben placed his head on top Mals and smiled. She was still visible in the pictured and smiled. "Always. Purple Haired Princess." he replies to Mal's thanks.
PrincessLonnie: friends, ice cream, and movies. Doesn't get better than this.