Mal's POV
We finally make it back to the hospital and see that everyone is exactly how we left them, except the gifts that the girls were holding are gone.
"We all got to go see him" Jay explained after noticing my questioning look and I nod in understanding.
"How is he?" I ask softly.
"He's good, he's been asking for you though" Carlos says while looking at me curiously.
'He's been asking for me?' I internally ask myself.
"Yeah Mal if I were you I'd go see him before he decides to hop his way down here" Gil says with a small laugh.
"Well then I guess I better get up there, wouldn't want his highness to hurt himself even more" I laugh as I begin walking towards the doors.
"We'll be here when you come back" Evie calls out behind me and I turn around.
"Actually why don't you guys go home, I can handle him" I suggest, nodding towards the enterance.
"Are you sure? We don't mind staying" Lonnie says as she stands up and takes Jay's arm.
"Yeah you guys go on and have some fun, go on a triple date or something" I say with a small grin.
"I think that's a great idea" Jane says as she carefully puts Dude on the floor and stands up, taking Carlos's hand.
"Alright, see you later Mal. Call me if you need anything" Evie says as she walks over to Doug and takes his hand.
"I will" I say with a small smile. With that the six of them walk out of the hospital holding their partners hands with Dude trailing behind them. I turn to the two remaining VKs in the room and an idea strikes me.
"Hey Dizzy why don't you go to the ice cream shop with Gil?" I say with a smile as I pull out my dark purple leather wallet, I found it two years ago when I was digging through the daily haul from Auradon.
"Really?" she squeals excitedly as I pull out twenty dollars and hold them out to her. She takes it with a big smile on her face.
"Thank you" she says excitedly as she grabs Gil's hand and begins dragging him towards the enterance.
"Keep the change!" I call out with a grin as she begins telling Gil about all of the different flavors as they exit. I laugh to myself before walking over to the front desk and asking where the cafeteria is, she gladly gives me the directions and soon I find myself exiting the cafeteria with a bag of jelly donuts in hand. I make my way through the swinging doors and get into the elevator, tapping my foot as I wait for it to come to a stop. I exit the elevator and make my way towards Harry's hospital room. I peak through the window and see him watching the tv in the far upper left corner of the room with a bored expression on his face. I smile before opening the door, automatically gaining his attention and his bored expression quickly turns into one of happiness.
"You're back!" he says excitedly as I enter the room and close the door behind me.
"I told you I would be" I say with a small laugh as I walk back to my spot at chair next to his bed. I sit down and hold the bag out to him. He looks at it curiously before opening it and taking out one.
"What are these?" he asks curiously, swiping off some of the red jelly sticking out of the side. He licks it off and moans at the taste.
"Jelly donuts, they're one of the first snacks I tried when I first came to Auradon" I say with a small smile, memories of my first date with Ben at the enchanted lake echoing in my head. I mentally shake those thoughts out of my head, now is not the time for that. It's unhealthy to think of your ex when you're the one that told him you want a break.
"They look pretty good" he says with a smile before taking a bite out of it and letting out a loud moan after swallowing.
"Oh my god these are amazing!" he moans as he takes another big bite. I laugh hysterically as he devours his donut and he cocks his head to the side after swallowing his last bite and looks at me curiously.
"And incredibly messy" I giggle as I lean forward and wipe some jelly away from the corner of his mouth.
"You can't take me anywhere I guess" he laughs as he grabs a few tissues and gives me one. I freeze for a few seconds remembering when I'd said the exact same thing to Ben before snapping out of it.
'Harry and I are more alike than I thought' I think to myself with a small smile.
"I guess not" I say playfully as I wipe the jelly off my fingers and throw the tissue in the trash can next to my chair. He smiles at me before wiping his mouth with a tissue and tossing it into the trash.
"C'mere" he says with a small smile, patting the spot next to him on the bed. I chuckle and do as he says, taking a donut out of the bag as I lean back against the pillows.
"That's a good lass" he says playfully while patting my knee.
"Easy there pirate boy, just because you're already in the hospital doesn't mean I'm not afraid to hurt you" I say warningly with a playful smirk.
"Oh no, whatever shall I do?" he gasps in mock horror and we both burst into laughter.
"Fear me if you dare" I say darkly and he laughs even harder.
"Oh gods Mal stop it you're killing me" he gasps out in between laughs while clutching his stomach. I giggle and bury my face in his shoulder as I shake from laughing so hard. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and hugs me as he laughs softly in my ear. After a few minutes of eating my donut we relax and lay next to each other as we scroll through channels on the tv.
"Earlier today Lady Mal was spotted exiting the hospital with Evie Grimhilde" a news woman announces as a picture of me and Evie walking out of the hospital pops up on screen.
"Do you want me to turn it off?" Harry asks me softly.
"No I'm ok" I say quietly, not taking my eyes off the screen.
"It is rumered that the relationship between Lady Mal and King Ben are over because King Ben may have pushed Lady Mal's friend Harry Hook, a VK that arrived to Auradon a few days ago down the stairs" the woman continues.
"The pair were spotted arguing in the waiting room of the hospital after Hook was admitted and King Ben left the hospital a few minutes later after hugging the obviously distraught Lady Mal" the woman continues as distant video footage of Ben and I argueing shows on the screen, thankfully without any audio. Out of the corner of my eye I see Harry look at me worriedly and I turn my head slightly to give him a small smile, hoping he can't see the pain in my eyes. Obviously my hopes are dashed when he pulls me to him and wraps his arms tightly around me to give me a little bit of comfort.
"Based on Lady Mal's obvious anguish over this incident some people are wondering if her and Hook are more than just friends, and the pair were spotted the other day looking quite cozy on the tourney field at Auradon Prep" I hear the woman say, and I turn my head slightly away from Harry's shoulder to look up at the screen. A picture of me sitting on Harry's back after I'd tackled him is shown on the screen, and I feel tears prick my eyes.
"What do you people think? Is Lady Mal cheating on King Ben with the new guy? What does The king have to say about his Lady possi-" the woman's voice is cut off as Harry turns off the tv and tosses the remote on to the bed. He holds me even closer as I feel hot tears begin to slide down my cheeks. I bury my face into his neck as I begin to shake with my quiet sobs.
"Those reporters had no buisiness invading your privacy like that" he growls into my ear as he tightens his good arm around my waist and rubs my back with his other hand.
"And I know that you would never cheat on anyone" he says comfortingly.
"But everyone else doesn't" I sob.
"Who cares about everyone else? You and I know the truth, that's what matters" he says softly before nuzzling his face in my hair.
"How'd you get so good at comforting people?" I mumble into his neck.
"I guess being around you brings out the best in me" he says into my hair before taking his hand off of my back in favor of running his fingers through my hair.
"I guess so too" I say softly before reaching up and wiping the tears off my face.
"No more tears ok?" he says softly, resting his chin on the top of my head.
"Ok" I say softly, finally beginning to calm down.
"Good, now let's just relax in this bed and eat jelly donuts all day" he says playfully as he grabs the forgotten paper bag.
"I like that plan" I laugh as I steal a donut and take a bite out of it. He laughs and grabs his own donut before turning on the tv and scrolling through the channels. After about ten minutes we finally settle on The Nightmare Before Christmas. We watch the movie in comfortable silence, making small talk every so often or singing along with the movie..well that last one was mostly me, ok all me.
"Hey Mal what was your favorite song on the isle?" he asks me curiously.
"Hmm probably Be Prepared" I say after a few minutes of contemplating.
"Really? Well mine would have to be Rotton To The Core" he says with a playful smirk.
"No seriously, what's your favorite song?" I laugh.
"Gaston and Rotton To The Core" he says and I groan.
"I am so glad I didn't run into Gil's brothers when I went back to the isle" I say relieved and Harry laughs.
"I bet you are, I remember the handful of times I saw the twins propose to you and how you said no every time" he says between laughs.
"Ugh! And Queen Belle thinks she had it rough with just one, I had two!" I groan, remembering how they'd chase after me like lost puppies everytime they saw me.
"I still don't understand how Gaston could produce two perfect 'minnie me's' and then produce a sweet guy like Gil" I say while shaking my head.
"Haha yeah that Gaston clan is an interesting bunch" Harry agrees.
"Interesting isn't the word I'd use to describe those three boarish brainless idiots" I say with a huff as I remember Gaston Sr. and both Gaston Jr.'s singing Gaston frequentlyvas they walked through the market place.
"Woah easy there Mal" he chuckles while holding his hands up in surrender.
"What? At least I'm telling the truth" I say with a casual shrug as he lowers his hands.
"True, that's one of the qualities you were best known for on the isle, along with you being tough as nails" he says with a playful smirk.
"And don't you forget it" I say with my own smirk.
"I'd never dream of it, I feel bad for the fool that challenges you" He says with a cocky smirk.
"The thing about bad guys, they always lose!" I exclaim and we both burst out laughing for what feels like the hundreth time.
