Chapter 10 : Hurricane Jay (Part 1)

Jay bit into the apple, immediately captivated by the taste. His jaw hung open, and his eyes filled with delight. It tasted different. Different from on the Isle. Better, in fact.

It wasn't rotten.

Carlos was stuffing his face with chocolate, while Mal did the same with strawberries. Evie remained the most radiant out of the four, taking small bites and never talking with a mouthful of food.

"Look!" Carlos opened his mouth and snorted when Evie dropped her fork in disgust. She watched in horror as some crumbs fell onto her dress.

"Ew!" She smacked his arm, "Don't make me call you 'Nipples' again!"

Mal giggled from her spot across the table, "When did you call him-"

"Children!" Fairy Godmother came up to their table, "Are you enjoying your meals?"

Her smile was nausiating, but not as much as usual. Carlos and Mal had even smiled back at her. Evie barely noticed her arriving as she brushed away the crumbs, and Jay was still enjoying his apple.

"It's really good," Carlos eyed his tray, covered in empty candy wrappers, half-eaten chocolate bars, and peanut-butter bites. Fairy Godmother gasped, she'd never seen so much sugar on a single tray.

"O-oh, dear. Carlos, sweetie, don't you want to eat something a little more filling? Like maybe a hamburger? Or hot dog?"

She watched as his eyes filled with fear, "D-dog?!"

"W-what? Oh! No-no, Carlos." He was whirling around the table, praying that vicious monster was nowhere in sight. "C-Carlos, don't worry! There's no dog!"

Jay and Evie had already wrapped themselves around him, and Mal was standing behind him. He started to calm down after a minute of reassurance from Fairy Godmother.

"I'm so sorry," Fairy Godmother added, "I didn't mean to scare you. I promise, I won't ever say it again, okay?"

The small boy nodded, and pushed away his tray of treats.

"C-can I have a h-hamburger, though?"

She smiled, and held out her hand. He took it and walked off with her, leaving the three others at the table to finish their meals. But Ben and Audrey showed up a few minutes later, and asked the same question.

"How's the food?" Ben asked, watching them stuff their cheeks full. Like squirrels getting ready for the winter.

Jay pulled his tray away from the prince and princess, "Mine..." he muttered.

"It's fine. Fairy Godmother took Carlos to get something other than chocolate and candy." Evie beamed a smile to the couple, "We never knew food could actually taste good."

"What...?" Audrey questioned, "Didn't you have a favorite food back on the Isle?"

Mal shrugged, "Rotten apples, probably. That's what we had the most of."

"Or mud-shakes!" Jay piped up, "One of them in the morning really woke you up!"

Ben gave the three a smile, "Have you ever tried a milkshake?"

They looked at him like he'd lost his mind. And his smile only grew.

(Mal, Jay, and Evie went ballistic after their first taste. Mal got strawberry, Jay got vanilla, and Evie got blueberry. Audrey managed to sneak a chocolate one to Carlos while Fairy Godmother wasn't looking. And he was quick to love the taste.)

"The Mistress of All Evil and Gaston...?" Belle said the name with distaste. She was sitting across the library with Ben. Audrey had wondered over to where the kids were reading.

Mal was just doodling on the margins of the page, while Jay continued to fold the corners of pages of text he didn't understand. Carlos was quite fond of reading, and despite being eight, was advanced enough to read middle school, and sometimes high school level books. Belle had immediately taken an interest. Evie had managed to slip a magazine in front of the bigger book in her lap. Those were always more interesting. She had to keep up with the latest princess-fashions and do's-and-don'ts of the kingdom.

"Yep. Gaston is Mal's father." Ben nodded, and eyed the purple-haired girl a few tables away. Audrey had now disappeared in the stacks beyond them, searching for a book herself. (Though she might take Evie's lead and snatch a magazine, as well.)

"And what about the others...?"

Belle was wary of the answer, still trying to process Gaston and Maleficent. Together.

The thought easily made her shiver.

"Evie's the daughter of Evil Queen... and Judge Claude Frollo."

She widened her eyes, Claude was obviously an older man. And Evil Queen was relatively young...ish. She knew villains often liked to 'Scratch an Itch' with each other - and she's pretty sure most of the progeny on the island are a result of that.

Then her mind started heading into dangerous territory when she thought about the 'Non-consensual' types of villains. Gaston immediately entered her mind. Again.

She would never wish that upon anyone. Not even a villain.

"What about Carlos and Jay?" Belle placed her book on the table, and eyed the boys across the room. Jay was still folding the corners of pages (she struggled with keeping her composure once discovering he liked to do that), and Carlos had found another book by now.

"Carlos' father is William Cecil Clayton. Otherwise, simply known as Clayton. The hunter who Tarzan defeated."

Belle nodded, Cruella the Dog Killer. Clayton the Gorilla Killer.

"At least Carlos is nothing like his parents. He's sweet."

Ben smiled at her statement; the eight-year-old was definitely the nicest of the four. On most occasions. But his smile didn't last long when his mother asked of Jay's absentee parent.

"He's a little more complicated..." Belle questioned his aloof statement.

"What do you mean?"

He might as well just come out with it. There's no use waiting any longer. The secret had been eating at him all day.

"Jay's father isn't Jafar."

Belle gave a look of confusion, and quickly shook her head, "W-what? No- He has to be."

"His blood sample didn't match anyone on the Isle. So, we checked further into it. And... Jay's parents are Aladdin and Jasmine."

"What?!" Audrey's startling voice sent the soon-to-be king flying out of his seat. Belle swiftly caught her son from tripping, and returned the glare Audrey was giving him.

"Audrey!" Ben hissed, shushing her. She looked back at the kids; Mal was still doodling through the pages, Evie was contempt with her magazine, Carlos was enjoying the first few pages of yet another new book, and Jay was still folding the corners.

"What do you mean Aladdin and Jasmine are Jay's parents?" Belle whispered to him.

Ben sighed, "I don't know how, exactly. But my best guess is Jafar stole Jay with magic or something."

"But Aladdin and Jasmine already have a son, Aziz. He's attending here, he's even on the tourney team? I don't remember Jasmine ever being pregnant a second time..." Audrey collapsed into a chair next to them. "Did he make us forget, too...?"

"Forget what?" A small voice peered out from behind Belle, and they all turned and saw Jay. Of course.

"O-oh. Jay- uh, nothing. Ben and I were just talking about some, uh, h-homework." Audrey gave the younger boy a smile.

Belle looked at the book in his hands, cringing at all the folded corners.

"Do you need something?" She spoke kindly, giving him a warm smile; his cheeks flushed red and he looked down at the floor.

"I n-need some help... w-with the reading..."

"Which part?"

He pointed at the folded corners, "T-they're to help me. I go back t-to reread them."

Belle nodded, and took the book from his hands. Over half the pages had been folded, and his eyes sank back down to the floor.

"Okay," she stood up, and smiled at him again. "Wanna go over there so I can help you?" Belle pointed to the secluded table in the corner, and he nodded.

"T-thank you."

Ben and Audrey waited until they were out of hearing distance, before continuing the conversation.

"Do you honestly think Jafar had the power to do such a thing? How could it be even possible? He was trapped on the island like twenty years ago."

"I don't know how he could have done it. But he did something. It's no coincidence Jafar just happened to find Jay, the son of his swarm enemies, on the Isle of the Lost. It's also no coincidence that none of us remember Jasmine being pregnant a second time. Or losing any son."

Audrey nodded to her boyfriend, "D-do we tell him? I mean, we have to to tell him. Right?"

Ben agreed, "I guess he really is a prince, after all."

"And not just a prince of thieves."

Mal blinked awkwardly at the picture in front of her, as did Carlos and Evie beside her, with their own pictures to gawk at. Her's had Gaston on it, in all his hairy glory. Carlos' had Clayton on it, aiming a rifle right at him. And Evie's had Claude Frollo, wearing the same grimace on his face that he usually wore every day on the Isle.

"What are these for?" The blue-headed girl asked. "And why isn't Jay here?"

Ben looked at Fairy Godmother, hoping she'd answer for him. But it looked like she was at a loss for words as well. They've never done anything like this before, they didn't even know if this was the truly right thing to do.

"Well..." Ben stretched out his arms, "Do you know who these people are?"

There was a moment of silence, before Mal cautiously raised her hand. She didn't know if she had to, but she'd been scolded in class for not doing it, so she did it. Just to be sure.

"V-villains...? From the Isle?" She answered after Ben pointed at her.

"Yes, correct. But do you know what else they are?"

Carlos muttered under his breath, "Mean."

"Old," Evie whispered.

"Gross..." Mal finished.

"You didn't answer my question: Why isn't Jay here?" Evie continued, "Is he in trouble? Are we?"

"No, no, Evie. Don't worry. None of you are in trouble." Fairy Godmother smiled at them.

"Then that doesn't answer Evie's question..." Mal cocked her head.

Carlos joined his friends in glaring daggers at the woman and the soon-to-be king. But his attention was quickly brought to the sound of running feet, and gentle sobs. They all turned, and saw Jay running past them, and out into the hall. Belle was rushing after him, now accompanied by Beast, and Audrey.

"Jay! Wait!" Audrey managed to blurt out, but he turned the corner and disappeared.

"W-what's going on?!" Mal rose to her feet, her anger bubbling, "What'd you do to Jay?!"

Audrey hid from the ten-year-old as she stepped behind the queen. While Carlos and Evie had moved in the direction Jay had ran.

"Mal-" Beast placed his hand on the girl's shoulder, but she flashed her emerald-green eyes, and left with the son of Cruella De Vil and daughter of the Evil Queen.

"You guys are jerks!" Carlos yelled, running out with the girls. He didn't know what happened, but they'd caused Jay to be upset. Ben's head fell down into his shoulders, and Fairy Godmother was trying her best to keep up with the kids. But they vanished just as fast as Jay did.

The ten-year-old boy found himself huddled up on his bed, cradling the pillow against his chest as he heaved and sobbed into it. Tears streaked his tan - now rose-red - cheeks, and rolled down his neck. His beanie was pulled down over his eyes, stained with the tears Jay continuously failed to hold in.

Was his whole life a lie?

Was he really the son of Aladdin and Jasmine?

He heard the door knob jiggle, and he quickly buried his face in the pillow. Carlos stepped inside the room, feeling it was even larger than before.

"Jay...?" His voice was quiet, but it reached the older boy's ears.

Mal and Evie were in the hallway, waiting in silence. Jay wasn't much of a crier, and they doubted he'd want to reveal why he was a sobbing mess in front of all three of his best friends.

"Go away, Carlos," Jay choked out the boy's name, "j-just leave me alone."

"Just tell me what happened. It's okay to be sad. It's okay to cry-"

Jay shook his head, "No, it's not! I-I'm a villain..." the words didn't seem to feel right coming from his mouth now, "I-I'm not supposed to c-cry..."

Too late.

Carlos cautiously sat down on the bed, "Everyone cries, Jay. I cry. Mal cries. Evie cries."

"I don't."

Even Jay didn't buy into his own lie. Carlos certainly didn't.

"Then what are you doing right now? Sweating from your eyes?" The De Vil smiled at the older boy, hoping to get one in return. Jay sighed deeply, before peeling his face from the pillow.

"I'm not crying."

Carlos nodded, "Okay."

Jay's eyes wondered to the window, seeing the gloomy skies start to cast over Auradon. How fitting. And of course, this only reminded him of every dreadful day on the Isle. The days he spent with his-

He didn't dare think it.

Jafar wasn't his father. He never was, and never would be.

"Wanna talk about it?" Carlos' voice wedged it's way through Jay's thoughts, drawing his eyes back to the smaller eight-year-old.

"No."

Jay went back to the window, and eyed the overcast. Carlos followed his gaze and gave a chuckle at the sight.

"Looks like a storm's coming."

"Uh-huh," Jay nodded, "Wanna watch it with me?"

"Sure."

Jay pulled himself closer to Carlos, and nudged each other's shoulders. The wind was picking up, and they giggled at the sight of Auradon's princes and princesses running across the yard to get inside. Rain poured down in sheets almost immediately.

They smiled at the sight of a certain-Prince Charming Jr. failing to get inside in time, and getting soaked down to his boxers.

"What a loser," Jay commented.

Outside in the hall, Evie and Mal had slumped down to the floor, and listened to the gentle drizzling sounds through the walls and windows, despite it being an ice-cold winter storm outside.

"Do you think Audrey's out there?" Mal almost showed a devilish smirk.

Evie shrugged, "If not, we'll make sure of it next time."

They flicked their hair off their shoulders, and grinned; Evie had taught Mal that move. And it happened to be when Baxter was walking by. Mal flashed a smirk towards Ben's little brother. And he couldn't help but blush...

I made this chapter a little longer for the sudden lack in updates. If you didn't already know, I've started school a week ago, and I'm struggling to find a compatible updating schedule. Not that I had one in the first place, but still.

Anyways, hopefully you liked this chapter, and hopefully you liked who ended up being the other kids' parents. I know Jay's parents being Aladdin & Jasmine has been done before, but hopefully you'll give this a shot. I've got some cool ideas in mind :)

And before you ask, this story may have some fluffy-couple stuff. Mal & Baxter definitely have that playful moment at the end, which might eventually go into something further. But remember, they're ten. Most ten-year-old's don't date.

Okay, that's all from me for now. I hope you liked it, and I look forward to seeing your feedback! See you later ;)