The Next Day

Mal's POV

Today's the day Harry,Gil, and Dizzy will arrive. Ben,Jay,Evie,Carlos, and I are currently waiting in front of the school with fairy godmother and Ben's parents for the limo to arrive. After a few minutes of waiting the limo pulls up in front of us and I watch nervously as the door slowly opens. The band begins to play as Dizzy gets out of the limo and looks at everything excitedly.

"EVIE!" she squeals as she races over to Evie who is now smiling widely. They hug and I look back at the limo, waiting for the boys to come out. Gil timidly gets out next, and I can see that he is both nervous and excited to be here.

"Hey Gil" I say warmly, giving him an encouraging smile as I walk towards him.

"Hey Mal" he says happily, pulling me into one of his famous bear hugs.

"It's great to see you too" I gasp as he lifts me off the ground.

"For heaven's sake Gaston, put the poor lass down before you break her" a familiar Scottish accent says amusedly. I turn my head and see Harry give me a small smile.

"Oops, sorry Mal" Gil says bashfully as he puts me down.

"That's alright Gil I'm alright" I laugh as I move towards Harry.

"Hi Mal" Harry says softly as he hangs his hook on one of his belt loops and hugs me.

"Hi Harry" I say as I hug him back.

"Can we talk later? I'd really like to talk to you about a few things" he says quietly as we break away from our hug.

"Of course" I agree. I know we have a lot to talk about, but I can't wait to have my friend back.

"Great, I look forward to it" he says with a playful smirk.

"As do I" I say cockily. He chuckles and shakes his head as he gives me an amused grin.

"Same old Mal I see" he laughs.

"You can take the girl out of the isle, but you can't take the isle out of the girl" I repeat Dizzy's words from the other day.

"Very true" he agrees. We share a laugh and walk side by side with Gil over to the others. Ben moves towards us and smiles at me, and then he turns and looks at Harry amd Gil with an encouraging smile.

"Welcome to Auradon" he says warmly.

"T-thank you for inviting us" Gil says nervously, slightly hiding behind me and Harry when he spots Ben's parents.

"Gil it's ok, they won't hurt you" I whisper encouragingly as I reach back and take his hand comfortingly. He gives my hand a small squeeze before letting it go.

"She's right mate, we wouldn't let anything happen to you if they even tried" Harry agrees, patting Gil on the back.

"you're very welcome Gil, but it was Mal's idea" Ben says kindly. Harry and Gil turn to me and give me big smiles as they mouth 'thank you'.

'You're welcome' I mouth back.

"Alright, now if you'll follow me I'll give you lot the grande tour" fairy godmother says. She begins to lead Gil and Dizzy towards the school and Harry looks back at me for a moment before jogging to catch up with the others.

"That went well" Ben says as he takes my arm. I smile up at him and kiss his cheek.

"Come, let's go get some lunch" he says lovingly as he leads me towards the school.

"Can we have a picnic?" I ask hopefully.

"Of course, anything for my lady" he says before leaning down to kiss me.

A Few Hours Later

An hour later Ben and I are sitting at the stone ruins we went to on our first date surrounded by different foods.

"What?" I ask shyly as I notice Ben smiling at me as I lick the powder from a jelly donut off my fingers.

"You're so beautiful" he says as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Oh Ben" I giggle, shaking my head amusedly.

"You are" he insists, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me to him.

"I love you" I mumble, burying my face in his neck.

"I love you too" he says as he holds me close. I feel him kiss the top of my head and smile against his neck.

"It seems like all three of them like Auradon so far" he says contently.

"Yeah, I hope it stays that way too" I murmer, remembering how everything in the past few months eventually pushed me to the edge and I went back to the isle.

"I'm sure it will" he says comfortingly, rubbing circles on my back. I'm finally starting to wear my old vk outfits again, it feels good to feel like my old self again.

After The Tour

Harry's POV

I lay back on my bed and sigh contently. Gil is sitting cross legged on his bed and we're relaxing in our new room. We're right across from Jay and Carlos's room, so at least if we need anything we only need to walk a few steps.

"It feels so good to have a real bed" Gil says happily.

"Aye it does" I sigh, lost in my thoughts. I can't believe Mal was the one that asked for us to be here,after everything we've done, everything I've done. Somehow she sees potential in us, and I really don't want to let her down. She was my best friend when we were little, aside from Gil of course. I remember how when we were six we used to run around mother gothel's cottage when she babysat us, chasing each other. It used to be just the the two of us, it was us against the world. Then Uma came into the picture and everything fell apart. All four of us used to hang out together, but as time went on Mal showed up less and less. Until finally she almost drowned after falling off of the docks. I'd wanted to jump in after her so badly, but I was afraid of what would happen if my father found out. So instead I was forced to watch as my best friend fought to stay on the surface while begging Uma to help her. I was silently screaming for Uma to help her from my spot in the shadows, but she never did. I remember sighing in relief when Mal finally managed to pull herself up on to the dock, and how I scowled as I watched Uma walking away without making sure she was ok. I stayed there watching as Mal gasped for breath for several minutes until sge was breathing regularly. And watching sadly as she slowly stood up shaking, and followed her in the shadows as she trudged home to make sure she was safe. I sigh and shake the memory away, not wanting to remember how I just stood there like a coward. Even as the years went by I'd still try to say hi or have small talk with her when we crossed paths up until we were thirteen. Our nit so friendly encounter in Lady Tremain's Curl Up And Dye was half hearted, I didn't want to be so cold towards her. When she origionally left for Auradon all I could think about was that once she took the wand we could patch things up when she came back. That it would be us against the world again, and that the world be ours for the taking. I felt more hurt and betrayed when she chose to be good that day, that she chose some prince over everything she knows, over me. When we were kids I used to have a crush on her, okay I still have a crush on her. But I can't help it, she's so beautiful,smart,strong, and brave I'd be a fool to not like her like that. Suddenly there's a knock on the door and I'm broken out of my thoughts.

"Come in" I call out as I slowly sit up. We look at the door curiously and I can't help smiling when Mal enters the room.

"Hey guys" she says with a grin as she moves towards Gil and gives him a hug. I start to pout until Mal breaks the hug and goes over to me. She wraps her arms around my shoulders and I can't help melting into the embrace as I wrap my arms around her waist.

"Ready for our chat?" she asks me as we break our hug.

"Oh um yeah" I say nervously, rubbing the back of my neck.

"I'll go play videogames with Jay and Carlos, you guys have fun" Gil says as he leaves the room.

"So um...what did you wanna talk about?' Mal asks nervously as she sits next to me.

"I wanted to apologize" I begin to say, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Apologize? For what?" she asks me confused, looking at me quizzically.

"For turning my back on you,for letting you down, for being a horrible friend" I sniff, beginning to feel the lump in my throat get bigger as I try to get out my next words.

"Harry-" she begins to say as she wraps an arm around my shoulders.

"Please let me finish, if I don't get this out now I don't know if I ever will" I beg. She nods and rubs my shoulder comfortingly.

"But what I'm most sorry about is not going in after you that day on the docks" I croak, my voice breaking a few times.

"Harry we were just kids, it doesn't matter anymore" she tries to say.

"But it means everything to me! I should've helped you but instead I just stood in the shadows like a coward!" I say with a raised voice before looking down at my lap.

"Harry..Harry listen to me" she says softly, tilting my chin so I'd look at her. She removes her hand and I start getting lost in her beautiful grey eyes.

"I understand that you feel bad about what happened, but I want you to understand that I never ever blamed you for it" she says.

"But-" I begin to protest before she puts a finger over my lips. It takes every ounce of my self control to not kiss her hand right now.

"Let me finish" she says softly, and I nod.

"Harry I'd very much like to rebuild our frienship, like we used to be before Uma came along. Can we please put the past behind us?" she asks hopefully as she moves her hand from my mouth.

"Yes..I'd like that very much too" I mumble, in disbelief that she's not furious with me.

"Thank you so much, you won't regret giving me a second chance. I promise!" I say eagerly as I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly.

"I know pooka" she says softly as she hugs me back tightly. (A/N: I saw in a video that that is Dove's nickname for Thomas and I just couldn't resist using it :P).

"You haven't called me that in years" I say with a smile.

"Should I not use it now?" she asks curiously, pulling away slightly to look at me.

"You can call me whatever you want" I say with a grin as I pull her in for another hug. My heart feels like it's going to leap out of my chest, I have my best friend, my real captain back.