Here is part two of the three part epilogue!

I didn't think I'd be able to finish it in time, but I somehow did. It is officially my longest chapter ever written.

I've also come up with the idea about making a side-story for this story. In this chapter, you'll meet everybody else's kids and you'll be told when or how they got married. Would you like a side-story of one-shots of each couple getting married and having their kid? The chapters would be in the order of how they got together, as mentioned in this chapter. If want it, leave a review! I'll do the story if I get at least ten to fifteen reviews requesting it. I'll post an author's note if it does happen.

Honestly, I cannot believe this is technically chapter twenty-one. It does not feel as though I've done that many chapters.

By the way, I've added years so you'd have some sort of reference on the ages of the children. This way you won't get confused later on in the story. I tried to make it as correct as I could when it came to their grade, which may be why it took so long for me to type this.

Anyways, be sure to leave a review on what you think about this chapter.

Enjoy!

So many events happened during the early stages of Alaura's and Ben's childhood.

Let's start with the adults first, that way you won't get confused later on.

Within five years of Ben being born, all of his parents' friends married their significant other. Uma and Harry were the first to marry, just three months after Audrey and Gil had their second child, February 15th, 2021. Six months later, on August 25th, 2021, Uma gave birth to their daughter, Harriet, who was named after her aunt. Harriet was just as beautiful as her mother with her skin slightly lighter than hers, but she had her father's raven hair.

Surprisingly, Carlos and Jane married next and it was about one month after Uma and Harry's wedding, March 9th, 2021 to be exact. When Carlos and Jane told Fairy Godmother about their engagement, she immediately claimed she disapproved of Carlos. Angered and upset with Fairy Godmother, the couple eloped just to prove a point to her; she can't tell her daughter what to do forever. A few months later, December 16th, 2021, Jane gave birth to their son, Cameron de Vil. Cameron was just as fair skinned as his mother, despite being fourth black, and had his mother light-brown hair. Other than that, he looked like his father, especially with the splash of freckles on the bridge of his nose.

Jay and Lonnie decided to marry six months after Jane and Carlos had their son, on June 8th, 2022. Their friends made sure to joke about them taking so long to finally marry one another. Jay proposed when the two of them were celebrating Chinese New Year in the Forbidden City. On March 13th, 2023, their daughter Nasira came into the world. She had been named after her great-aunt who passed on after giving birth to Jay's cousin, Jade. Nasira could be mistaken for the woman she was named after, according to her grand-father, Jafar. Jafar first met his grand-daughter when she was eight and admittedly cried at the first sight of her because she reminded him so much of his deceased sister.

Evie and Doug were the last of their close friends to marry and actually had their wedding a couple years after all their friends, with the date being January 21st, 2025. They didn't have their daughter, Evangeline—her nickname being Eva—until a few more years later on September 17th, 2029. The two mutually agreed to wait so long to have a child because Evie was way too busy with her growing business. They wanted to wait until they were absolutely sure they could handle managing the business and taking care of a child. Eva was the spitting image of her mother, down to her natural blue hair. She does have problems with her eye-sight and had to get glasses at the young age of five.

When it came to attending school, Alaura was in the highest grade of all the children. Ben and Malik were in the same grade together during elementary and most of middle school, one year behind Alaura. Harriet and Cameron were in the grade just below the birthday twins. Since she was born two years later, Nasira was two grades below Harriet and Cameron. As for Evangeline, she would only be in second grade by the time Alaura makes it to her senior year of high school.

Now that you have some background information on each of the couple and their children, we'll get on with the story.

Which starts with an angered brother.

-0-0-0-

In the late August of 2033, the children were having Open House for their respective schools. Evangeline was still slightly too young to start school, though she attended day care most days of the week. Nasira would be attending her final year of elementary school, the fifth grade, without any of her friends. Harriet and Cameron would be starting the seventh grade and Ben would be attending the eighth grade with his best friend, Malik.

Or, so he had thought.

Since they all lived together, Harry volunteered to take the children to their respective schools for Open House, mainly because he had to be at one of the schools for about an hour since he was promoted to the official R.O.A.R. coach. The four would go to Harriet's and Ben's middle school first before they would go to Auradon Prep, where Alaura would be starting her first year of high school. Cameron's father would be taking him to his school while his mother would be attending the Open House at Auradon Prep as one of the teachers. Queen Mal and King Ben asked the day before if Harry would take their son, Malik, as well since they were extremely busy planning the opening ceremony of the completed bridge.

The five of them headed to the middle school first, where many of the teachers congratulated Malik. Malik simply shrugged, brushing off the compliments like they were no big deal, though the other four could tell how tense it made him. Only one of the four knew why the teachers were saying such things, and silently wondered when the teen boy would tell his friends the news.

The five visited Harriet's new classrooms first, which was the best friends' old classroom. One of their old teachers congratulated Malik as well. Once again, Malik remained silent, so Ben finally asked what his friend was being congratulated for.

Turns out, Malik took an exam over the summer that promoted him. That essentially meant he skipped the eighth grade. Malik was technically a freshman and would be in the same classes as Alaura in Auradon Prep.

Ben felt completely betrayed. For the rest of the day, he refused to look at his 'so-called' best friend. During the trip to Auradon Prep, he brooded the whole time, which essentially ruined Alaura's once excited attitude for her new school. Harriet attempted to cheer him up, but he simply glared at the ground as he continued to fester. Ben didn't say a single word to his sister, mainly because he blamed her, even though she had no idea about Malik's 'scheme'.

After dropping Malik off at his castle, the remaining four had to deal with the glum atmosphere. When they arrived at their home, Ben stormed pass the kitchen, where his mother and Uma were in the middle of making dinner, straight to his room, slamming the door shut as though to prove a point about his anger.

Audrey turned to the other three with curious wide eyes. "What happened?" She interrogated in concern. "Why is Ben acting like that?"

Harry sighed as he sat at the kitchen counter bar with the two girls following his example, his daughter taking the seat next to him. "Malik took a test to advance to the next grade," he explained. "He passed and is now a freshman at Auradon Prep."

"But that's great news!" Uma insisted. "He should be happy for his friend."

"He's not," Alaura argued as she sadly gazed down at her hands. "Ben's mad that Malik basically abandoned him."

"And he blames Alaura," Harriet pipped up. "He said Malik only wanted to get ahead because of her."

Audrey sighed. "Your father and I will handle it," she promised her baby girl. "And I will ask Malik's mother for the real reason why he wanted to skip a grade. For now, you and Harriet can start setting the table. Dinner will be done in ten."

-0-0-0-

Ben refused to eat with his family that night and probably wouldn't have if his father, Gil, hadn't brought him a plate. Gil managed to get a little information out his son, though he did admit that he called Malik while his family was eating.

"Alaura would be in a new school all on her own with no friends," Malik had tried to explain. "Cameron's father did the same thing so he could be with his friends."

"I'm your friend too," Ben had argued defensively. "You wouldn't choose one friend over the other. You have a different reason. You just don't want to tell me."

When Malik tried repeating the same excuse, Ben angrily hanged up the phone on him.

After relaying that information to his wife, Audrey planned a sort of lunch date with Mal to get the full truth.

The next day in the queen's castle yard, Audrey and Mal ate together while they had the private conversation about their children.

"Malik overhead a conversation between Ben and I," Mal confessed within the first five minutes of the lunch date. "I was voicing my concern for Alaura with her starting Auradon Prep. I mentioned a couple incidents of you being bullied during your senior year, including the vandalized locker. A couple days later, Malik asked us if he could take the test to move up a grade. He thought that if he could pass, he'd be able to somehow protect Alaura from being bullied."

"Why though?" Audrey questioned. "Why would he want to do that?"

"There are two reasons," Mal determined. "This first is because of Benny's asthma."

Yes, Mal does call Audrey's son 'Benny', mainly because she didn't want anyone to be confused when she talked about her husband and their god-son. On with the story!

"Malik thought Benny wouldn't be able to do anything about the bullying because of his medical problem," Mal tried to explain. "Malik was afraid Benny would get some kind of asthma attack if he knew Alaura could potentially be bullied. Since Malik is now ahead of Benny, he believes he can end any chance of it before Benny starts Auradon Prep."

"And the second reason?"

Mal rolled her eyes playfully. "Isn't it obvious? Malik is in love with Alaura!"

Audrey shook her head in amusement. "And Alaura's in love with Malik," she revealed. "But she told me privately she didn't want to do anything in fear that it would mess with his and Ben's friendship."

"Malik said the same thing." Mal smiled mischievously. "Do you want to play matchmaker?"

This time, Audrey rolled her eyes playfully. "They're our kids," she insisted. "They'll get together on their own. Besides, they'll be spending a lot more time together in Auradon Prep."

-0-0-0-

A couple days later, Auradon Prep hosted their usual Family Day at the beginning of the year, where families say 'good-bye' to their children that stay year round. Even though Alaura would be staying with her family for the school year, her parents insisted that they go so Alaura could be familiar with some of her new classmates.

Ben was still in a sour mood and refused to go. Harry eventually had to drive Alaura while her parents stayed behind to talk some sense into her brother. Alaura tried not to show that it bothered her, but her god-father could see right through her façade.

About thirty minutes into the event, Alaura's mother and father showed up without her brother.

"Your grand-father is talking to him," Audrey reassured her daughter as the three—Harry went to mingle with other teachers—walked to a more private area. "We are hoping he can reason with him and bring Ben here."

Alaura visibly brightened up. "Grandpa Philip or Gi-Gi?"

"Grandpa Philip," Gil answered. "Travel on the bridge has been halted for a few days until the official opening ceremony. Your 'Gi-Gi' won't be able to visit until afterwards."

Alaura's shoulder drooped at the news. Although she loved her Grandpa Philip, her Grandpa Gaston—or 'Gi-Gi' as she calls him—is admittedly her favorite, though she would never tell Grandpa Philip that.

Audrey laughed at her daughter's reaction. "You better cheer up before they get here," she teased good-naturedly. "You know how prideful your Grandpa Philip gets."

Alaura merely nodded as she tried her hardest to cheer herself up, but it has been a difficult week for her.

A little over an hour later, Philip arrived with a moderately quite Ben. He mumbled an apology to Alaura for blaming her and eventually excused himself to talk to Malik. Within ten minutes, the two were best friends again, laughing and joking with one another.

But would it last?

-0-0-0-

The next day Alaura and Malik had their first day of Auradon Prep. Alaura became lost on the way to her first class, but luckily Jane—Cameron's mother—was her first hour teacher and helpfully led her to the right room before class actually began. Alaura apologized more than once, but Jane soothingly reassured it has happened to someone every year that she has been a teacher.

In the first half of her classes, Alaura found herself seated next to Malik, though she wasn't going to complain. She secretly had a crush on him for the past couple years. Alaura assumed the crush would die away since they'd be at separate schools for a year, but since he was in the same grade as her now, Alaura couldn't seem to think straight or talk to him without stammering.

Just a few minutes before lunch, Alaura was walking to the cafeteria when she was cornered by a couple older teenage males, most likely juniors, who decided to pester her. They made meaningless jabs at her parentage, since they were all 'pure' Auradonians and she was a 'half-breed', since her parents were Auradonian and Isle. Alaura attempted to push pass them, but then one of them grabbed her arm.

Big mistake.

As soon as the hand was on her, it was off her. Alaura turned slightly to see Malik suddenly standing in front of her protectively while the grabber was on the ground holding his jaw.

"I'm only going to say this once," Malik warned as his eyes shined bright bright green. "Stay away from ALAURA!"

Alaura unconsciously cowered behind him. She heard from her father, her mother, and her god-parents that Malik's grand-father had a beast-like temper, which passed down to his father. Apparently, it was passed down to Malik too.

"You're defending her?" One of the harassers questioned. "She's the grand-daughter of Gaston!"

"And I'm the grand-son of Maleficent," Malik reminded boldly as he straightened his stance to seem more threatening. "You mess with her; you deal with me. Got it?"

The bullies nodded erratically before they scurried off like the scared rats they were.

Malik turned to Alaura with a small smile. He gestured to the rose garden. "Follow me," he insisted as his smile grew. "We have almost an hour lunch before our next class. I want to show you something."

Alaura thought it over for half a second before she slowly nodded. As she was being led away, she silently wondered what could make Malik seem so happy.

-0-0-0-

About ten minutes later, Alaura was brought to a peculiarly large hole in the ten foot tall section of the rose garden. Malik climbed through the hole while Alaura hesitated. When he made to the other side, he peeked his head inside the hole and held his hand out to help her through. Alaura paused once again before she took the offered hand with a slight blush on her cheeks.

When she emerged on the other side, Alaura gasped at the scene.

Surrounded by the enormous hedges stood an equally large octagon gazebo, that looked as though it hasn't been used in over ten years. Vines grew around each pillar and there were noticeable cracks in the cement ground and the wooden roof. Alaura fell in love with it on sight.

"I found this yesterday during Family Day," Malik confessed as he moved to stand in the center of the building with Alaura slowly following. "I thought this could be our 'secret place', where we could hang out in our free time and hide when we want some privacy."

Alaura's blush deepened. "You mean, just you and me?" She clarified. "No one else?"

"You and me." Malik confirmed as he took a step closer to her. "I like—" He paused abruptly as he shook his head in denial. "No, I am completely, one-hundred percent, in love with you. I want us to be more than just friends."

Alaura could faint. She couldn't believe the one thing she has hoping for, for two years, was finally coming true. Although . . .

"I'm in love with you too," she confessed. "But what about Ben? He's my brother. I can't go behind his back and date his best friend."

"Alaura, Ben was the one that suggested that I ask you out," Malik revealed. "He thought you and I would make the perfect couple. I want to prove him right, and I'm hoping you will agree to go out with me Friday night."

Alaura whined. "You're making me wait even longer than I already have? That's not a good way to start our relationship."

Malik chuckled at her child-like behavior. "How about tomorrow night then?" He compromised. "I'll take you to dinner, the movies, and maybe I can convince you to let me kiss you after our first date."

Alaura smiled brightly at the plans. "That sounds perfect, except the last part. You are still making me wait too long. You need to kiss me at the right time."

Malik tilted his head curiously. "When is the right time?"

Her smile grew as wide as possible as she announced, "Now."

His lips curled into a smirk as he confidently stepped forward once again, placed a soft hand on her cheek, and gently kissed her in the center of the amazing gazebo. Alaura's eyes flutter shut as she wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing happily as she melted into the kiss.

Their high school years were about to get a lot more interesting.

-0-0-0-

The rest of the first school day went by fast. Alaura was basically on cloud nine, thinking the day couldn't get any better.

But it somehow did.

In the passing hour before her final class of the day, Harry bumped into Alaura in the hallway. Her god-father warned that he would have to stay after school a couple hours that day for Tourney tryouts—since new regulations came out about no Tourney practices before school officially begins—so someone would be picking her up out front. Harry never said who, so Alaura naturally assumed it would either be her mother or father.

Alaura was happily mistaken when she walked to the front of the campus with Malik and squealed in delight when she saw someone she hasn't seen in almost a year. She eagerly ran to that someone, who swooped her into a massive hug. "Gi-Gi!"

Gaston, a.k.a 'Gi-Gi', kissed his grand-daughter on the forehead before setting her down on the ground. Alaura smiled eagerly up at her grand-father. "What are you doing here?" She wondered in surprise as she pulled away. "Dad said you wouldn't be able to visit until after the ceremony in a few days."

"The ceremony was this morning," Gaston corrected calmly, though he himself was secretly ecstatic about how Alaura brightened up even more at the news. "They let me be the first to cross so I can surprise you. Did it work?"

"Absolutely!" Alaura cheered. She turned to look at Malik, who was standing awkwardly a few feet away from them. "This is my grand-father, Gaston," she explained.

"Gi-Gi, this is Malik," Alaura introduced. "He's Ben's best friend and—"

"Your boyfriend?" Gaston guessed, though his tone suggested that he was teasing them.

The soon-to-be couple blushed, causing the grand-father to chuckle at their reaction. "Not yet," Malik insisted as he tried to will his blush away. "We're going on our first date tomorrow."

"How long will you be in Auradon?" Alaura wondered. "Is it just for tonight or . . ."

"I'll be here for a few days," Gaston reassured, before winking at Malik. "You won't have to reschedule your date."

Malik's blush came back full force at the comment. The couple said their 'good-byes' before the family members walked off to catch up with one another.

-0-0-0-

Alaura didn't necessarily tell her parents that she was going on a date with Malik. When she came home with Gaston, she informed her parents that she made plans with a 'new' friend for after school tomorrow and essentially made sure she had permission to go. Her parents essentially agreed, but made her curfew eight, since it would be a school night.

The next morning, Alaura walked into the kitchen while everyone in the house was eating breakfast. She had taken extra time getting ready, so she only had enough time to grab something to eat on the road.

"Alaura," Audrey chided to get her daughter's attention. "Your curfew will be at nine instead of eight. That way you have an extra hour for your date with Malik tonight."

Alaura snapped her head up to see everyone trying to hide a smirk. She groaned in annoyance. "Who told you? His mom or Gi-Gi?"

"I did," Ben answered as his smirk grew, "because Malik texted me after you said yes."

Alaura sighed. "I should have known that he would tell you."

"Best friend," her brother teased. "Since I played match-maker, I want to be first to know when you get engaged and I call dibs on being the first to hold your ki—"

"WOAH!" Alaura shouted as her face became a deep red in embarrassment. "You are thinking way too far ahead. We've had one kiss and no date!"

Gil chuckled at his spot at the kitchen table. "That sounds a lot like how your mother and I became a couple." He slyly winked at his wife as he explained to the children, "On my first day in Auradon, I fell in love with your mother at first sight as she did with me. We ended up taking a walk in the garden where we confessed our sudden feelings for one another. We kissed before we had our first date, and then had you, Alaura, less than a year later."

"See?" Ben interrogated jokingly. "History's repeating itself! You'll be engaged by the time you graduate high school. I guarantee it."

-0-0-0-

History may have been repeating itself, but the two did not have a kid within the first year of dating one another.

It was a bit awkward for the couple at the beginning of their relationship. Their parents teased them nonstop for the first month or so. They made jokes about how they wouldn't have to meet their child's significant other's parents since they already knew each other. One of the married couples even suggested a double date where they could chaperone the younger couple.

Ben seemed to be the one to tease them the most. He would be hanging out with Malik, but ask if he wanted to call Alaura since Malik was acting like a love deprived puppy. Ben developed a habit of peering over Alaura's shoulder and asking if she was texting his best friend, even when it was their parents.

The only time and place Alaura and Malik had a break from the pestering was Auradon Prep. Just like the first day of school, the two would hide out in 'their' secret place during lunch to hide from everyone.

The term is used loosely because of an incident involving the second Family Day of the year. Alaura wanted to show her parents the hideout, so the dating couple led the married couple to 'their' entrance. The married couple shared a look of surprise, but wordlessly climbed through the hole in the hedges. Audrey started to get misty-eyed at the familiar scenery, so Gil explained that it was their secret place when they attended Auradon Prep. The last time they were there was almost fourteen years ago, where they married inside that very same gazebo.

The secret place became even more special to Alaura at that moment.

The school year eventually ended and the new year started just as quick as the last one ended. However, this new school year, Ben would be joining them, changing the number of safe places that the couple had to zero. Ben knew his limits though. When he felt as though he was pushing too far, he'd lay off the jokes for a few days before starting again, just enough time to reset.

Now, we are going to jump this story a few months ahead—

To Alaura's sixteenth birthday.

-0-0-0-

For the last fifteen years, the family of four developed a certain system when it came to April 12th. In the morning, Audrey and Gil would quietly exchange anniversary presents and then spend the rest of the day celebrating their daughter's birthday. The next day, they would go out to a fancy restaurant, just the two of them, while Harry and Uma watched their children.

This year, Alaura wanted to do something special for her wonderful parents.

After getting dressed for the day, Audrey and Gil walked to the kitchen for breakfast to see their daughter standing in the center, wearing her favorite light pink dress, with her hands behind her back. Before her parents could ask why she was acting so suspicious, Alaura revealed a medium sized box that only had a bow to decorate it. Curious, the couple cautiously took the present and slowly removed the lid together.

Audrey wordless gave the box to her husband and enveloped her daughter in a hug as she started to cry happy tears.

The gift was a picture frame that had the photograph Harry took of the four of them, back when Ben first came into the world fifteen years ago. It was the exact moment when Alaura kissed her newborn brother's forehead and her parents were smiling down at her in happiness.

Definitely one of the best presents her parents had received from her.

School that day for Alaura was absolutely wonderful, mainly because her amazing boyfriend went all out for her. In the morning before school officially started, Malik waited by her locker with a beautiful bouquet of roses and a small cupcake that had a single candle for her to blow out. After she made her wish, Malik informed Alaura about a special lunch date at their secret place where he would give the birthday girl her real gift from him. No little brother/birthday twin allowed.

Alaura eagerly and impatiently waited for lunch hour, where she was surprised by an extravagantly decorated secret place. Helium balloons in her favorite colors were tied to the pillars of the gazebo as streamers neatly covered the other bare spots. Inside the gazebo, Malik set up a beautiful and romantic picnic for the two of them.

After the couple ate their delicious lunch, Malik presented his gift to his beloved in the form of a small black box. Alaura cautiously opened the gift and breathed a sigh of relief when it was only a heart shaped cage locket that a small glowing object inside. The object turned out to be a piece of a wishing rock from the Enchanted Lake. Alaura would have to silently make a wish on the object and, as long as she wore the necklace, the wish would come true.

Alaura already knew her 'second' wish—

To always fall more in love with Malik with each passing day.

With how spectacular her birthday is, you know there has to be something to ruin it.

Or someone.

-0-0-0-

As the last bell of the day rang, Alaura, Ben, and Malik walked to the front entrance of the school. One of the siblings' parents would pick the three of them up so they could head to their home for Alaura's birthday party. Malik's parents would join them after dealing with a little issue.

Speaking of the 'little issue' . . .

When the trio arrived at the entrance, they immediately noticed an older woman, most likely in her late eighties, with another blonde/gray haired woman in her early sixties. They looked an old mother/daughter pair.

The older woman noticed Alaura and smiled distractedly. She and her daughter walked to the trio, who were silently waiting for their ride. The elder woman stepped a little too closely to Alaura, but the birthday girl decided to be polite and not move.

"Oh, Audria," the elderly woman cooed affectionately. "You still look as young as ever." She grabbed a strand of Alaura's dirty blonde hair, causing the young teen to flinch. "You've finally did away with those dreadful highlights. They never looked good on you. Too unnatural."

Alaura backed out of reach of the woman. "I'm sorry," she apologized with a shake of her head, "but I'm not Audria. I don't even know who she is."

The elder woman laughed. "Don't be so stubborn, Audria," the woman insisted. "I know I've done some terrible things to you in the past, but surely you have forgiven me by now. It's been sixteen years!"

Alaura shook her head again as she stepped back, behind both Malik and Ben. "I'm sorry," she apologized once again. "I have no idea what you're talking."

The other woman stepped forward. "Is there any way any of you could help us?" She questioned. "We are looking for my daughter, Audria. Do you know where we can find her?"

"For the last time," Malik warned as his eyes flashed to a light green, "we have no idea who you're talking about so leave us alone."

"But—"

"LEAH! AURORA!"

The five whipped their heads toward the direction that the feminine shout came from. Alaura breathed a sigh of relief when she discovered it was her mother, who had stepped out of the car.

Audrey glared at the older women as she slammed the driver door shut. "What are you doing here?" She interrogated harshly.

The oldest woman, Leah, laughed, despite the tense situation. "You are our Audria," Leah decided. "I can't believe I mistook that girl for you."

Audrey sighed. "For the millionth time, it is 'Audrey'. Why are you here?"

"Don't be so rude, Audria," the other woman, Aurora, scolded. "She is your grand-mother and I am your mother. Show some respect!"

"You were never my mother," Audrey argued. "And I will never show you any kind of respect, not after you attempted to kill my daughter on many occasions when she wasn't born yet."

Leah changed her attention back to Alaura, who cowered even more behind her brother. "Oh," Leah cooed once again, "you must be her daughter." She snarled her nose at Ben. "And you are . . .?"

"My son," Audrey snapped. "And he is not named after that tyrant!" Audrey adverted her attention to the children. "Children get in the car. Malik, call your parents. Tell them there are intruders, kidnappers, at Auradon Prep."

Each of the teenagers nodded solemnly as they quickly climbed into the car with Alaura taking the passenger seat. They watched as the siblings' mother glared at the women.

"You are in violation of the rules." Audrey chided forcefully. "And I will be pressing charges."

Audrey climbed into her vehicle and drove off as the campus guards surrounded the older women. A few minutes into the drive, the mother sighed to get rid of her frustration.

"That was your grand-mother and great-grand-mother," she explained to her children. "They never liked that I was in a relationship with your father. When they discovered I was pregnant with you, Alaura, they were not happy."

Audrey glanced at her daughter for a brief second to reveal, "They wanted me to abort you."

Alaura tensed at the announcement. Malik scooted forward in his seat so he could place a comforting hand on his beloved's shoulder.

Audrey continued with the story. "They came to the hospital the day you were born, but I refused to let them into my room. Your grand-fathers suspected that they were going to convince the doctors to do a last minute abortion, but they never got a chance to do so."

"A year after you were born, they tried to kidnap you," Audrey informed. "They had no idea that I was pregnant with Ben and were only concerned with you. There was a party to celebrate Malik's parents' marriage. Everyone in Auradon was invited. You were only a foot away from me and you screamed your lungs out when Leah grabbed your arm from behind. She and Aurora were escorted out of the party and a restraining order was placed on them. Since they violated the order, they will either be placed under house arrest or sent to prison. I am going to guess house arrest, since they are far too old to last long in prison."

Alaura remained silent for a few moments before wondering, "Do you ever regret not having the abortion, so you could be on their good side again?"

Audrey scoffed. "I was never on their good side. Growing up, I somehow always did something that angered them or they disapproved of." The mother smiled at her daughter. "If I were in that same situation, I would choose you and Ben every time. I love you."

Alaura turned her head toward her window, that way neither her mother nor brother could see the tears of relief that trickled down her cheeks.

-0-0-0-

Alaura's sixteenth birthday party was one to remember. She received many gifts from her family, friends, and family's friend. The funniest gift had to be from her brother, which was a little coupon book that he made that had phrases like '60 Minutes with No Boyfriend Jokes'; 'Do Not Disturb Date'; 'One Week of No Eavesdropping on Phone Call'; etc. Her favorite gift was still her boyfriend's, despite the brand-new car Grandpa Philip bought her.

Time passed with no significant events taking place. There were big celebrations for when the boys' had their sixteenth birthday, as with any of their friends.

Soon, it came time for Alaura and Malik's graduation. Ben's prediction about the couple of four years being engaged by that time did not come true.

However, the little brother was off only by a few short months.