Author's Note: This is from a prompt sent by PinkSakura271 'Have Bal & Doug/Evie do a swimming lesson at the Enchanted Lake'. I hope you enjoy the chapter. X

Ben's POV.

I could feel Mal's hand tighten a little in my own as I led her down the familiar path to what had now become our spot. Mal had mentioned about having a double date with Doug and Evie so I had got together with Doug yesterday to brainstorm ideas both of them would like. It quickly became known that neither girl could swim so we decided it would be a perfect date, teaching them to swim.

As we walked down the path to the enchanted lake we saw Doug and Evie already here setting up the picnic setting up the picnic for after the girls swimming lesson that I realised we were late. We were only late because Mal had tried to get out of learning to swim and I had to talk her into coming.

"Ben." Mal whispered as we got down the path and near Evie and Doug. I stopped and looked at her. You could easily see her worry. "I don't think I can do this." She said. I smiled at her. I knew this was because of what happened when she jumped into try and save me on our first date but I also knew Mal would love swimming once she learnt how.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her, knowing this would be the easiest way for her to see nothing bad will happen.

"Of course I do." She stated. I nodded to her answer.

"Then trust that I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" I told her. I wouldn't. The thought of Mal being hurt in anyway makes me both angry and sick to my stomach. I may not have been with her long but I've always known Mal is the one for me.

"Okay, I'll give it a try." Mal relented. I just hoped it wouldn't take her too long to realise it is actually really fun and not at all scary. I squeezed her hand reassuringly as I turned and led her down to our two friends/family.

"Hey guys." Doug greeted us. We both smiled at him before Mal was engulfed in a hug from Evie. I smiled the the pair of them before releasing Mal's hand and walking over to Doug.

"Any problem telling Evie?" I asked him, wondering if he had the same problem I had with Mal.

"No, she was actually pretty eager to learn how to swim. Have problems with Mal?" Doug asked me. I couldn't help but not my head to him.

"Yeah after what happened on our first date she's scared to go in the water again. But she's willing to give it a try." I explained to him. It has always been easy to talk to Doug, probably because unlike some people he doesn't judge me. I took off my t-shirt and jeans I had decided to wear today so I was wearing only my swim shorts like Doug was. We had decided to have the swimming lesson before eating and maybe go swimming again afterwards if the girls were comfortable with it.

I wasn't long before I heard giggling coming from Evie and Mal. "Really, Ben!?" I heard Mal ask. I turned to look at her and found a very amused expression on her face.

"What?" I said.

"Your wearing the shorts with the little crowns on them?" She asked me. I just shrugged me shoulders at her. I had hoped they would ease her worry about learning to swim and it looked like my plan was working.

A few minutes later Evie was with Doug in the shallow end of the lake. I had just stepped down and turned back to find Mal looking at me like I had gone crazy. "Mal, you will be fine." I promised her. I noticed Mal nod in response as she took off her leggings and vest top to reveal a purple one piece. It was clearly one of Evie's creations as while it fit Mal well it also had a bit of the VK/Isle flare I was used to seeing on them.

I reached out my hand, which Mal took, and carefully helped her off the platform and into the water. I noticed Mal was now gripping my hand a little tighter then before but I didn't say anything to her. We slowly walked out until the water was around the height of Mal's waist and Evie and Doug had followed us. Me and Doug knew the best way to get them swimming would be starting with the basics, like you would if you were teaching a kid.

Me and Doug crouched in the water after eventually convincing the girls to lay on their stomachs in the water and held their hands as they got the hang of kicking their feet in the water properly. Mal seemed to pick it up right away, Evie not too long after. The arm movements were simple enough for them to pick up as well. Within half an hour they had the basic movements down they just had to put them together.

"Wow guys, your fast learners." I stated as Doug nodded beside me. I couldn't help but smile at Mal. She was picking this up so fast considering she didn't want to do this in the first place. Both of them smiled at us before Evie spoke.

"So what's next?" She asked us.

"OK so now Ben's going to take a lap of the lake and then you girls are going to try putting the basics together and swim the same path Ben takes." Doug explained. I looked to Evie and found her looking excited but when I looked at Mal she was the exact opposite. She actually looked terrified.

"You'll be fine I promise." I told her before I swam off. I have loved swimming from being a kid. There's just something about it that makes me feel free. The feel of the water around me and how weightless I feel it just soothes me. But now that I think about it, it doesn't soothe me as much as it used to. The only thing that soothes me that much is spending time with Mal.

Before I knew it I was back near the others and lifting my head out of the water. I stood next to Mal and watched as Evie swam (best she could since she'd only just learned) across the lake. I pulled Mal into my side as we watched Evie swim around a little. "You okay, Mal?" I asked her, it was unusual for her to be this quiet unless she was uncomfortable. When she only nodded as her response to my question I knew something was wrong. "Really? Mal, talk to me, please." I said. I hated it when she didn't talk to me.

"It's just..." She started to say before she stopped. I stood next to her and waited patiently for her to continue. I knew from experience if I tried to push her she wouldn't finish. "What it I can't do it or something happens?" She asked me. And again she was worried because of what happened on our first date. Damn it. I should of told her I would be back in a second rather then just swimming off and worrying her.

"I promise you that nothing will happen but it it'll make you feel a little better how about I swim right next to you, yeah?" I asked. It was really the only thing I could suggest to make her feel a little more relaxed since this was something she needed to learn how to do. Mal nodded to my suggestion and we turned to see how Evie was doing. She was swimming a lot better now and was almost near Doug. I took Mal's hand and decided to get her going now. I knew if Doug or Evie said 'your turn now, Mal' or anything like that it would make her nervous again, even though I know that's not what they mean to do. I let Mal start first since I am a stronger swimmer then she is, and noticed her struggle right away. But I also noticed her panic as well.

I swam up next to her to steady her. "See! I can't do this!" She exclaimed once I had helped her stand up and she had stopped struggling.

"You can do this Mal, just don't panic or over think it." I stated. She hesitantly nodded and I prayed she would be okay this time because from the look in her eyes I knew if she felt like she'd failed again she wouldn't try again. Thankfully this time she seemed to get the hang of it and was soon speeding up, causing me to start swimming at my normal speed rather then the slower one I had been doing to stay close to her.

After doing a full lap of the lake without stopping Mal brought her head out of the water and stood facing me. "I can't believe it! I actually did it!" She stated. I was proud of her. I know water/swimming had become a small fear of hers since she nearly drowned but she had overcome that today.

"You girls fancy going for another swim after lunch?" I asked then to which they both answered with a nod.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always if you have any ideas or any one shots you would like to see them please leave a review or PM me. x