Hey guys, welcome to the Seven Day Conclusion! I know that the title of this story might scare you but please bear with me, everything will make sense soon enough. I promise! Also I know that this chapter is shorter than what is normally in our main series; but as this is the starting chapter I thought that I would give you a little taste of what is to come. Let's just back into it my loves, RSD xoxoxoxoxoxoxo.
P.S. Content warning for suggested smut and lemons.
*The Next Morning*
As the sun cascaded through a gap in the curtains I couldn't help but roll over in my sleep to get the piercing light to evade my eyes; however it was at this point I realised that I wasn't snuggled into Ben. I slowly let my heavy eyes roll open fully and I smiled at the sight before me; I may not have been cuddled into Ben but he was lying next to me - with his face inches away from mine. He had his left hand placed onto my right hip; he obviously had gone to the toilet in the middle of the night and couldn't cuddle back in to me upon his return. However the way he was lying with me was still intimate; and meant a great deal to me. I reached forward and cupped the left hand side of his face with my right hand and I pressed a tender kiss against his nose. When I pulled away I smiled at the fact that his mouth was slightly open and he was growling in his sleep. I loved this noise and I knew that this would never change.
My mind then started to relive what happened yesterday after our limousine pulled away from the Town Hall; the car ride home was near enough in silence. It wasn't the fact that something was wrong; it was just that we were all in relief at the fact that we had been able to get through this together. I could also sense the feelings of shock over what had happened between me and Lady Leah but this wasn't something that I was going to fixate upon – it would appear that her opinion was never going to change on me. This was something that I had come to live with; and I welcomed Princess Aurora's and Prince Phillip's leadership over South Riding. It would be more pleasant to deal with them than Lady Leah; and I didn't think that I was the only person to believe this.
After we arrived at Auradon Castle I stood with my family as we greeted the full council back; I could still sense the wave of apprehension and nervousness in the air – as this time the accused party was with us. This was until, however they returned home with their families to begin their house arrests. Ben had allowed them to dine with us; however he stressed after they were finished they were to be shown to rooms that were to have guards around the doors. I know that Ben didn't like treating people this way; but he told me that it was necessary as he had a gut feeling that there were certain members of the accused party that would try to run away.
Ben had decided instead of having a three course meal; he had asked for Mrs Potts to arrange a buffet which consisted in food that covered each constituency in the Kingdom. When I asked Ben why he had done this he stated that he had done this as a show of solidarity; now that the trial was over he wanted the Kingdom to return to acting as one voice. He wanted the Kingdom to return to its peaceful manner before this whole plot and trial started; and he told me that he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that we both and our relationship were safe – no matter what.
When me and Ben retired to bed we barely spoke words; however it was our actions which spoke more potently we undressed each other lovingly as our lips and hands roamed over each other's bodies. As me and Ben made love we moved slowly against each other as we moved slowly towards our release. It felt perfect; like this was what we needed at the moment. After everything that had happened recently me and Ben needed to be like this with each other; we needed to hold each other close and whisper sweet nothings to each other. When we fell asleep happily in each other's arms we both finally felt solace in the fact that this situation was finally over.
"Mal" I heard Ben murmur which broke me out of my train of thought; and when I looked over to him I saw him smiling sleepily at me.
"Yes Ben" I replied.
"Are you ok?" he questioned.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked back in confusion.
"You looked deep in thought" he noted.
"I was" I confirmed. "I was just thinking about yesterday-" I continued. "Leading up to our antics during the night and early hours of this morning" I smirked and I watched as a smirk also smirk also spread across his face.
"I see" he replied as he rolled onto his stomach and propped himself up on both of his elbows. "No wonder you were deep in thought; you were perving on me again" he teased.
"I beg your pardon" I stated bluntly. "How was I perving on you?" I asked in confusion once more.
"You were imagining me naked" he quickly returned.
"That is partly true I guess" I agreed. "As the last thing I was thinking about was our antics" I stated as we both smirked at each other again. "However Ben-" I started.
"Yes?" he replied cheekily.
"If I actually wanted to perve on you-" I began again. "I would just pull the covers back" I winked at him.
"Is that right?" he exclaimed.
"Yes" I giggled.
"And is that what you have done?" he joked. "As I was just innocently sleeping" he urged.
"Ha!" I laughed back sarcastically. "There is nothing innocent about you boy!" I exclaimed and I watched as he winked at me. "But to answer your question-" I began. "No" I advised. "No I haven't done that" I elaborated.
"I see" he nodded.
"Have you perved on me when I've been sleeping?" I teased.
"I've looked at you yes" he confirmed. "But I wouldn't have called it perving" he added.
"What would you call it?" I enquired.
"Looking at you in absolute awe" he said lovingly. "With no dirty thoughts coming to mind at all" he stressed.
"I see" I nodded. "It would appear your Majesty-" I grinned. "You have fallen for me very hard" I teased again.
"Yes" he confirmed before he slid closer to me and we snuggled into each other, with Ben's head against my chest. "And so have you" he said as he looked up lovingly at me.
"Lucifer yes!" I exclaimed and I watched as he chuckled at me as I started to run my fingers through his hair. "And you know what Benny?" I asked.
"What?" he answered as we both stared lovingly into each other's eyes.
"I wouldn't have it any other way" I smiled.
"Me neither" he agreed before he quickly pushed his lips against mine and we shared a long and long and loving kiss. "Mal" he said after we broke apart.
"Yes?" I answered.
"What do you mean there is nothing innocent about me?" he enquired.
"I thought that would have been enough explanation" I said bluntly.
"Care to explain?" he prompted.
"Fine" I sighed. "For the public eye yes you are innocent" I continued. "But you aren't innocent to me" I reminded him. "You prank me" I stated and I watched as a large toothy grin spread across his face. "And let's not go into the things you do to me in bed on the regular basis" I purred.
"Hmmm" he purred back. "I haven't heard any complaints" he flirted.
"And you never will my love" I flirted as I brushed my nose against him.
"Hmm" he purred again. "Come here you" he stated.
"Wha-" I managed to get out before his lips collided with mine once more. It didn't take very long for me and Ben to get riled up again and as we started to make love again I couldn't help but be relieved that the trial hadn't been able to tear us apart. Ben was my soul mate; and no matter what anyone said or done this was never going to change.
"I have a surprise for you" Ben advised after we cuddled together after making love.
"Really?" I panted as I continued to work on regulating my breathing. "What?" I urged in eagerness.
"Well you asked me a few days ago for a Quarantine Lockdown" he reminded me as he started to run his fingers through my hair.
"What?" I said as I sat up straight causing his hands to fall from me.
"Yes" he confirmed happily.
"When?" I asked.
"Tonight" he confirmed.
"Where?" I urged happily.
"That's a secret" he teased.
"Benny" I whined. "Please?" I begged.
"No" he smiled. "I want to keep it a surprise" he explained.
"Are you at least going to tell me what I need to pack?" I questioned.
"Hmmm" he purred. "Well-" he began. "Given our history of Quarantine Lockdowns-" he continued. "Not very much" he flirted before he pressed a kiss against the top of my left arm. "We tend to me naked for a lot of it" he reminded me.
"True" I agreed. "Very true" I added. "Because his Majesty will insist on taking all of my clothes off" I flirted.
"Yes" he confirmed as his eyes started to darken once more. "Because it is quite a view" I cooed before he kissed my arm again. "But my consort does the same to me as well" he reminded me.
"True" I repeated. "I have heard she just can't help herself when it comes to you" I teased.
"No" he smirked. "No she can't" he added and we both chuckled as I lay back down and cuddled into Ben. We lay in silence staring at each other for a few seconds before I moved my face closer to his and I pressed a brief loving kiss against his lips.
"I love you" I muttered as I pulled away.
"I love you too Mally" he replied.
"How long as we away for?" I questioned as I placed my right hand against his strong and broad chest.
"We come back Monday morning" he advised. "Is that ok?" he asked.
"That's perfect Benny" I grinned. "I think after everything that has happened recently we just need some time being just Ben and Mal" I stated. "Yes we have had time on our own; but going away is different" I added.
"I know what you mean baby" he replied. "It going to be a long day" he groaned.
"Probably" I agreed. "I have to host with your mother" I stated.
"Yes" he agreed. "But you do it so perfectly" he offered as I looked up at him.
"I hope so" I said. "I've been under the training of your mother" I chuckled.
"What a fine Queen you are going to be" he said proudly as he started to run his fingers through my hair again.
"I hope so Benny" I returned.
"I know so Mally" he stated and we both smiled at each other. I watched as Ben slowly looked up and down my face before he crushed his lips against mine as we fell into a long and loving make out session. The last thought that was on my mind before me and Ben got lost in each other was that I couldn't wait to be alone with Ben tonight. I was excited for us to be just Ben and Mal; and quite frankly me and Ben needed this – given what we had been through over the last few weeks.
