When she turned up at their dorm at random hours, they didn't question it. When she broke down in their arms they didn't judge, she was brought up in evil like the rest of them and now she was meant to be the epitome of goodness. Mal was the strongest of them and as her friends it was their duty to look out for her because let's face it on the island all they had was each other.
So when prince, now king Ben showed up they showed him the door. Yet as a determined young man he didn't give up and began knocking on the door every hour. Evie had smiled at him sadly and said.
"You can't help her, it's not you she needs right now. I'm sorry" or course he didn't understand so Jay put it into boy terms for him.
"She's recovering and when girls need help they go to other girls" after that he appeared less but still talked to the door when she wouldn't answer. After a while Evie let him in.
"Ben we're going to leave you two alone for ten minutes"
"Only ten!" Jay quipped. As they left Carlos stood proudly
"If we come back and you've hurt her even more we'll show exactly what growing up evil has taught us" then he left. Ben sat on a bed and clasped his hands.
"Mal, what's going on?" he asked, his voice strained. Mal let a lone tear fall down her face.
"You wouldn't understand" she whispered. Ben clasped her hand and looked into her eyes.
"Then help me understand" and then she started to shake.
"You're parents loved you, mine…" ben stood up.
"Maleficent loved you in her own unique way" Mal shook her head viciously.
"She loved that I was trying to be evil Ben, my friends…. Their parents were pretty similar to mine but they kind of loved them, the evil queen gave all her gossip to Evie, jafar always made sure that Jay had somewhere to rest his head, even if it was because he made him steal the money to do so. Hell even Cruella had a soft spot for Carlos. My mum… she just wanted a puppet" Ben felt his heart drop at her confession.
"Mal, why didn't you come to me?" she scoffed.
"I was raised to believe love was a liability ben, I wanted to come to you but it's hard. My friends were the only one's brave enough to actually become friends with me. They're the only ones to see my weak side. On the island weakness was a luxury, you drop your guard and someone will stab you in the back, literally or otherwise" Ben didn't say anything and just pulled her into his lap as she calmed down. He may have picked a daughters villain but he was sure as hell going to marry a hero.