Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Enjoy!
"Wake up,"
Mal groaned.
"Mal, wake up. It's Christmas!"
She cracked open an eye, only to see Ben leaning over her, grinning.
"I thought you went to bed with a headache." she mumbled, stuck between burrowing back under the blankets and calling it a day, or getting up.
"Yeah, but I feel great now!"
"What time is it?"
"Eight thirty seven."
"You couldn't have waited until at least nine?"
"It's Christmas!" he argued, pulling a puppy-dog face.
"It's Christmas all day, Ben." Mal closed her eyes. Ben's bed was really comfortable. She could spend the rest of her life snuggled under the blankets, she was sure of it.
"Fine," he got up. "If you don't want your Christmas present from me, then go back to sleep."
Mal's eyes flew open.
"Well, doesn't someone look wide awake now." he teased as she sat up.
She stretched and combed her fingers through her hair. "Are we the only ones up?"
"As far as I know." he replied.
"Are we gonna go wake up everyone else?"
"Yup."
Mal smiled mischievously. Evie would be a perfect target.
Ben was fumbling with his sling and wasn't even looking at her when he said "Let's not be too mean. It is Christmas."
"You're no fun." she grouched.
"Yeah, yeah. King Ben the spoilsport. I know, I know. Can you help me with this stupid thing?" he turned around, looking defeated.
Mal laughed and got up. She helped him with his sling and together they set out to rouse everyone else.
They woke Evie first, and, after a quick stop for the girls to fix their hair (Mal just so it didn't look awful and Evie so it looked cute), they went for the boys and Dude. And then Belle and Adam, who seemed to be expecting five overly excited teenagers (and a dog) to knock on their door and shout "IT'S CHRISTMAS!".
"It's my turn to pass out presents this year." Evie announced. Mal had been volunteered their sophmore year, Carlos had last year and Evie had called dibs then, so Jay couldn't argue.
"Alright, Evie. Whenever you're ready." Belle nodded. Adam had turned on the radio to Christmas songs and the fireplace was cheerfully crackling away.
Evie grabbed a present from under the tree, gave it to who it was addressed to (or made a pile for herself) and then repeated the process until all the gifts, save one, had been distributed.
"Okay, that's it." Evie announced.
"What about-" Ben pointed to the gift.
"That's for the end." Carlos replied. "It's special."
"Can we open these now?" Jay asked eagerly.
Belle laughed. "Yes, please."
"Save this one for last," Ben murmured to Mal, tapping a little box wrapped in green paper.
She nodded and moved it to the side.
There was a lot of oohing and ahhing and thanking and hugs.
Evie and Mal had each gotten a set of colored pencils that were charmed to never need sharpening from Belle and Adam.
The boys had each gotten something Tourney related from Belle and Adam.
All the kids got Remote Controlled Cars from Ben's parents because they missed out on them when they were kids and Ben's had been broken for years. They were thrilled about the idea of racing them.
Dude got lots of treats.
Evie had made everyone something. Mal had gotten a dress and Belle had gotten a scarf, both which were received with many thanks.
Jay had found everyone some small trinket that reminded him of them. He wasn't the greatest shopper, but they were appreciated.
Carlos had bought everyone something perfect. He always did. No one knew how he did it.
Ben had brought back something for everyone from his adventures through the kingdoms he had visited thus far. That meant Ben had got Mal two presents.
Mal had painted or drawn everyone something. A drawing of Dude for Carlos, a shiloutte of a girl in a dress for Evie, a Tourney field for Jay, a painting of the castle for Adam and Belle.
She had been the most nervous about Ben's, but it eneded up being one of her best pieces ever. She was very proud of it.
He opened it decently well for someone with only one properly working arm and stared at it in amazement. "Mal, this is... this is... wow."
"Let us see!" cried Carlos.
Ben turned the canvas around so everyone else could see. The entire thing was covered in color. Each major kingdom of Auradon was featured, from the snowy North Mountain of Arendells, to sandy Agrabah, to the sea where Ariel's family lived. Even the Isle of the Lost had a spot. Auradon City was at center, the castle broadly outlined. Her signature was in the bottom corner. It was incredibly detailed and absolutely beautiful.
On the back of the canvas Mal had written a note- So you never forget how much of an impact you have and that you remember that this job might be bigger than one person sometimes.
"That's gorgeous, Mal." Evie said.
"Remarkable." Adam agreed.
"I don't even know where I want to put this, it's so good." Ben announced. He turned to look at his girlfriend. "Thank you so much, Mal. I love it so much."
"I'm glad." she replied, leaning against him. It had taken hours and hours to do. But it was worth it.
"Open that last one." Ben said, nodding at the little box beside her.
That box was just the right size for a lot of things. Mal could see Evie's mind thinking of everything it could be from across the room.
Mal opened the box. Inside was a delicate silver necklace with a purple heart-shaped stone. She gasped audibly. It was beautiful.
"Ben-" she looked to him, wide-eyed. It was too much. She wasn't that special. She couldn't possibly accept it. It had to be very expensive.
"I know you don't wear stuff like this usually, but the moment I saw it, I thought of you.
"It's-it's beautiful..." she admired. What was she supposed to do? She knew Ben well enough to know that he wasn't going to allow her to give it back.
"Then it suits you." he replied softly.
Belle and Adam shared a smile. There was something special between them. Audrey hadn't gotten anything like that from Ben when they were together and though he was sweet to her, it was nothing like how he was with Mal. It was kind of beautiful to watch them together.
"I don't even... thank you!" she threw her arms around him and he hid his cringe. "I love it."
"Good." he replied, hugging her back.
She took it out of the box and put it on, still admiring it.
Ben wrapped his arm good arm around her waist. "I honestly thought Doug was going to steal my thunder yesterday. But then Evie opened that bracelet and I was okay."
Evie smiled and touched the charms on her bracelet. She had put it on as soon as she woke up. They were all in their pajamas, but she had wanted to wear it. It was already very special to her.
Mal leaned against Ben, not the least bit shy about it. They had stopped feeling awkward in front of his parents a long time ago.
"Last present!" Evie announced, grabbing the final gift. "This one is for you both," she nodded at the former king and queen, "and Ben. From all of us." Jane had helped some.
Mal sat up suddenly and shifted to be nearer to Carlos and Jay. She had almost forgotten about it.
Adam had been the one to rip open the wrapping paper. It was a scrapbook. The cover had the picture of all seven of them from the previous year's Family Day.
The scrapbook was filled with pictures of all the things Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay had done, experienced, and seen since coming to Auradon as well as pictures with Belle, Adam, and Ben. It was a thank you for making them part of the family and for accepting them for who they were.
Each had written a note on a piece of scrapbook paper and that was the last four pages of the scrapbook.
Belle was in tears and Adam called for a group hug.
"What a wonderful gift. This is going somewhere special. Thank you kids so much." Belle managed to say around her tears.
"You're welcome!" all four of them said together, thrilled that the gift was appreciated.
The rest of Christmas had been spent eating pancakes with too much syrup and whipped cream, racing RC cars down the halls, and watching Christmas movies while drinking hot chocolate. There had been a lot of laughter and fun and eventually, everyone did get worn out.
As much as no one wanted to go to bed, they had to.
"Thank you again for my necklace." Mal told Ben before they each went to their own rooms. She hadn't taken it off yet. She loved it that much.
"Thank you for my painting." he replied. He still hadn't decided where he wanted to put it and had propped it up on his dresser for now so he could see it.
She smiled brightly. She was so happy he liked it. Success.
He leaned down and kissed her, something she wasn't expecting, but didn't protest.
"Merry Christmas, Mal." Ben whispered when they broke apart.
"Merry Christmas, Ben." she replied, equally as softly. Kissing Ben always let her a little dazed, but she kind of liked that.
He smiled at her one last time before going into his room.
She walked down the hall a little ways until she got to the room she shared with Evie.
Thankfully, her best friend was in the shower, so she wasn't there to witness Mal flop onto her bed with a dorky smile.
Best Christmas ever.
A/N: Cuties.
So, I probably won't be updating for a while. I'm caught up to the pace of my senior year and that means midterms are coming up after break is over, so I may or may not have time to update. A New Years chapter is a possibility however. However, that baby story I promised you is up already, so go check that out.
I hope you liked the chapter! Merry Christmas everyone!