A/N: This is just a short chapter before the big meeting. Happy reading!

Mal' POV

I was rushing to catch up to Lonnie. I got my art project back today and had to run to my dorm to put it away before heading back to the castle. I didn't want anyone to see it yet because it was going to be a Christmas present for Adam and Belle. Mr. Sneed wanted to put it in the holiday art exhibit this year but I begged him not to and told him I wanted it to be a gift. We made full marks on it which solidified my A in that class for the semester.

"I wonder what the guys are going to do tonight" Lonnie mused as we rode back to the castle after school. Tonight we were having ladies night and the guys were going to have guys night. I hadn't got a lot of time to talk to Ben since everyone started arriving. I was still going to classes during the day then hosting when I got back in the afternoon. It was mostly making sure everyone had what they needed and keeping them entertained.

"I have no idea. I haven't really gotten to talk to Ben to see what they have planned" I said to her as the limo pulled up to the castle.

"Well, I'm excited to go get pampered" Lonnie said smiling at me as we made our way inside. We had decided to treat the ladies to an afternoon at the spa. I had ulterior motives for suggesting we go to the spa. I wanted to freshen up, not only for the ball on Saturday, but for my date plans I was making for next week with Ben.

Lonnie and I went up to our room to get changed. Belle told us that all the ladies were going to meet in the front hall at four, so we had twenty minutes to change and head down stairs. I looked over at the door that connects our room to Ben's room. I wonder what they are going to be doing? I was missing Ben even though he was sleeping in the room next door every night. I had the thought to just bow out of ladies night and text Ben and ask him to skip hanging out with the guys so we can have some time together without anyone here. I knew he would do it without a thought, but I knew that I couldn't. Belle was depending on me and this was my idea after all.

I sighed and looked over at Lonnie who was grabbing her bag. "Are you ready?" I asked her grabbing my bag also.

"Yep. Let's go" she said smiling at me.

We headed down stairs and to my surprise Queen Aurora was there with none other than Audrey. Anxelin and Ruby were also with them. Belle must have noticed my surprise.

"Hey" she said as I approached. "I invited Aurora and the girls to come along" she said with a smile. "Rapunzel said she is having a date night with Eugene so she passed on coming, but Anxelin and Ruby were able to make it."

"That's great" I said. "The more the merrier" I said with a smile.

"Mal!" Ruby exclaimed, coming up and hugging me when she noticed I was there.

"Hey Ruby" I said hugging her back.

"Oh and Evie is going to meet us at the spa. She said she wanted to run back to the dorm to put some final touches on your dress so you can have your final fitting" Belle told me.

"Evie's coming too?" I asked and she nodded. Well it will be much easier to deal with Audrey and Anxelin with Evie there.

We all headed out to the spa. Belle was able to book the spa out so that our party were the only customers. We broke off into groups and changed into our robes to begin the pampering process. Audrey, Anxelin, Evie, Lonnie, Jordan, Ruby and I started with pedicures and manicures, while Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Hera, Aurora, Mulan, Tiana, and Meg went for messages and waxing.

"Does anyone know what the guys are doing tonight?" I asked as I sat down placing my feet in the warm water.

"Father said they were going to catch a tourney game that is being played tonight" Jordan said. Well that seemed innocent enough like Adam said. "Hey doesn't Hercules' son, Herkie, play tourney?" she asked.

"Yes. Ben said he plays professionally" I answered her.

"He is really nice to look at" Jordan said with a far away look on her face.

"Isn't he though. If I wasn't taken I would jump all over that" Lonnie commented. I couldn't help but laugh.

"I guess he's ok, if brawny is your type" I said shrugging my shoulders. Everybody giggled.

"Too much muscle in my opinion. A nice athletic build is far more attractive" Audrey said. I knew she was thinking of a certain king's athletic build. It made me wonder if she has ever seen him shirtless. I would think if they ever went swimming together she must have.

"So Ruby do you have a guy?" Evie asked. I knew Evie would take to Ruby.

"No but there is a this guy that I met recently that I kinda liked, but he is older than me and lives so far away" she said. "I don't think he even gave me a second look though" she said with a sad look on her face.

"Don't sweat it. There will be plenty of guys at the ball, I'm sure" Jordan said. "Just don't make any passes at Herkie. I think I might take a shot there" she said with a mischievous smile and we all laughed again.

"Have you picked a day yet Mal?" Evie asked smiling at me.

"A day for what?" Lonnie asked.

"I am trying to arrange a date with Ben next week, when all the excitement from the ball dies down" I said. "We haven't been able to spend a lot of time together cause we are so busy."

"Some relationship that must be" Audrey said snidely. I chose to ignore her. She doesn't know what my relationship is like with Ben. I don't even think she knows what it's like to be in love.

"Not yet. The sooner the better, but I figured I would wait until after the ball to work out which day would work best." I answered.

"I can't imagine not being able to spend time with Jay" Lonnie commented.

"The worst part is getting interrupted when we do find a moment to be together" I said with a sigh.

"Hey, I said I was sorry" Evie said.

"Don't worry you aren't the only one" I told her with a chuckle.

"Jane and I have worked out a system with Carlos and Jay where we have dates at the same time, so walking in while one of us is with with our guy doesn't happen" Lonnie said.

"That would work for us if I got to spend as much time with Ben as you guys get to spend with Doug and Jay. Luckily Doug has his own dorm so Evie spends her time with him there" I said smiling at Evie.

"Doesn't Ben have his own dorm room?" Anxelin asked.

"He does" Audrey said with a smirk like it was something only she knew about. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Had she spent time with Ben in his dorm? I kinda didn't think so from the way Ben described how things were when he was with Audrey. I think she just wanted me to think that they had spent alone time there. I will confirm with Ben before my date. There is no way I wanted to seduce him in the room that he use to go to to be alone with her.

"Yes but he hasn't really used it since he became king. All his business is done from the castle so he stays there" I informed them. I watched the smirk die on Audrey's face. She wasn't privy to how things work with Ben now and it probably bothered her that I was.

"Lonnie you never told us how your parents reacted to you dating a VK" Evie inquired turning to look at Lonnie.

"Well I told them what Jay did when I wanted to join ROAR before we actually became a couple so they kinda already liked him. Jay is my first serious boyfriend so my mom gave me the sex talk the other night after my date with Jay Sunday afternoon. It was so awkward" she said with an exasperated look and we all giggled.

"Belle gave Mal the sex talk" Evie said between giggles.

"I couldn't even imagine getting the talk from the guys mom!" Jordan exclaimed.

"Hey it wasn't that bad. Belle is like a mom to me and she is easy to talk to. I don't know if I would ever go into detail about what may happen between Ben and I though" I said. "At least I have someone who can answer my questions and give me advice if I need it." Audrey just crossed her arms over her chest but said nothing. I wonder if she knew that Belle didn't really like her as far as being with Ben went.

"So are you and Jay serious enough to have needed the sex talk?" I asked Lonnie steering the conversation away from me. She shrugged her shoulders and tried not to smile. I could tell by the look on her face that if they hadn't already done it , they were heading in that direction. I just smiled at her but didn't push the issue. All this talk about the guys was making me miss Ben. I pulled out my phone to text him while my feet where being massaged.

Hey baby. I miss you.

I didn't know if he would text me back or not. I didn't even know what time this tourney game they were going to started.

Hey beautiful! I miss you too.

A smile spread across my face. I loved when he called me beautiful. He made me feel beautiful.

Jordan said you guys are going to a tourney game.

"Texting Ben again?" Evie asked wagging her eyebrows at me.

"Yes and it's not like that" I said giving Evie a look.

"Not like what?" Ruby asked.

"Mal and Ben were sexting the other day" Evie said with a giggle.

"Evie!" I exclaimed. "We were not sexting! Ben was just being flirty" I said trying to bring an end to this conversation.

We are. Should be fun. I haven't gotten to see a game live in a while.

So what are you ladies doing tonight?

I looked back at my phone as the second text came through.

We are at the spa. Getting massages, facials, waxing, and mani/pedis

"You can always tell when Mal is texting Ben" Evie said. I looked up from my phone to look at her.

"And how is that?" I asked raising my eyebrows.

"You smile the whole time and from time to time your face gets all flushed" she said. Well I couldn't argue there.

"Well Ben makes me happy " I said. Ruby, Lonnie and Jordan gave a collective 'awww', which made me giggle. I watched as Audrey just rolled her eyes before she started complaining to the pedicurist that she wasn't doing it right. My phone chimed with another text.

So are you getting waxed? And if so, are we talking like everywhere?

I laughed out loud at his text and everyone looked at me.

"What's he saying?" Lonnie asked.

"I just told him what we are doing and he was asking about waxing" I said, still smiling not telling them exactly what he was asking.

"Guys have it made. They don't have to go through the torture we go through to look good" Jordan said.

"We should wax the guys one day and give them a taste of what it's like" Evie said.

"Ben doesn't have a lot of body hair" I said nonchalantly, looking at my phone. It went quiet and I could feel all their eyes on me. I looked up at them not understanding what was going on. Audrey had a scandalized look on her face.

"And how would you know that Ben doesn't have a lot of body hair?" Lonnie inquired.

"Yes Mal, do tell us how you know" Evie said, teasing me. She knew good and well how I knew, but I wasn't going to tell my business to everyone here at the spa. Especially Audrey and Anxelin. I felt my face heat up but thought of a good answer.

"We have gone swimming together. He doesn't exactly swim with all his clothes on" I said in a tone that made it seem like that is obviously how I knew. Evie smirked at me but didn't push it. I turned my attention back to my phone and the girls continued to talk about how funny watching the boys get waxed would be.

Yes I'm getting waxed 😉

I figured if I sent a winking emoji, I wouldn't really have to say what all I was having done.

I think I may have to steal you away tonight and see for myself. 😋

I laughed. I was going to have to burst his bubble though.

Sorry to break it to you but I have to wait 12 to 24 hours before any kind of frictional contact.

I could picture his pouty face. Especially with how much we have been interrupted lately. It was getting so frustrating.

😥 Why?

I giggled at his emoji.

My skin will be a little sensitive. All the hair is essentially being ripped out lol

By the way Evie thinks we should wax you and the other guys so that you can appreciate the pain we go through to look good for you

"I told Ben you think we should wax them" I said to Evie.

"And what did he have to say to that?" she asked just as his text came through.

I'll pass thank you, but I can show you in other ways how much I appreciate you 😛

"He said he'll pass" I said with a giggle.

"I'm sure that's not all he said" she said giving me a knowing look as she giggled herself. I watched as Audrey rolled her eyes again.

"Ben would never have been so inappropriate when we were together" she said jauntily.

"He isn't being inappropriate. He's being flirty. I'm guessing he didn't flirt with you that much?" I questioned with my eyebrows raised. She huffed.

"Ben was always the perfect gentleman!" she said crossing her arms over her chest.

"And he still is. We have been in a relationship for over a year and Ben has never been inappropriate but he does know how to make me feel wanted and loved" I said. That shut her up. Her remark reminded me to ask Ben about his dorm.

Did you ever spend alone time with Audrey in your dorm?

The question probably seemed like it was coming out of left field to him.

No. She didn't spend any time in my dorm at all. Why do you ask?

I knew it. She was trying to make me jealous.

She just insinuated that she spent time with you there

My pedicure was almost finished and I was about to have my finger nails done.

Audrey is with you guys?

I forgot that he didn't know she was there.

Yes. I have to go about to get my fingernails done. I love you

I texted him real quick before I placed my hand on the table next to my chair so that the nail technician can start.

I hope she is being nice. I love you too

Ben's POV

Mal didn't text me back, but I didn't really expect her to. She was at girls night after all. It was sweet that she even texted me at all. I was missing her even though she was staying with us. Weird how you can miss someone who is literally like a hundred feet away from you every night. I couldn't wait for the ball to be over. After the council meeting tomorrow, I didn't have any meetings scheduled until after the new year and I was nearly caught up on on the paperwork and filing.

I am pretty sure that Mal wants to take that last step and I was more than ready. I have had a hard time thinking of anything else since Halloween. It was getting so frustrating getting interrupted constantly. We were going to have to figure something out.

Every time I looked at her I felt like I was falling even more in love with her and it wasn't just the physical part that made me feel this way. I loved to just hear her talk. I loved to hear her talk about things she is passionate about. I loved that she always wanted to know how I felt about things. I loved that she was so patient with me. She has been the most perfect Lady of the Court and her and my mom had bonded in a way that I never thought possible. My parents loved her. She even puts up with Audrey and does it with grace, never letting Audrey bait her into doing things she would have done only a couple years ago. Mal would make an amazing queen one day I thought.

"Auradon to Ben" I heard Chad call out.

"Penny for your thoughts" Az said, from the seat next to me. We were in the limo an our way to the game.

"Just thinking about Mal" I said and couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"You are a lucky guy. Lady Mal is very beautiful" Herkie said. I just nodded, not sure what to say as a wave of jealousy hit me. I just thought about what Mal told me last night. I have never seen Mal show interest in anyone before, but I knew Herkie had a reputation for turning heads.

"She is beautiful, but not only that she's smart, and brave, and kind, and it has been so wonderful watching her fall in love with Auradon" I said letting the feeling of my love for Mal wash over me.

"If only we could all be so lucky" Az said slapping me on the Back.

"I look forward to getting to know her better. She sounds wonderful" Zeus said smiling at me.

"She is" my dad said. "Belle and I adore her." Dad smiled over at me. It meant a lot that my parents didn't just approve of Mal, they accepted her as if she was family.

"I think Mal and Evie, both, have filled a void with mom. They are the daughters she always wanted" I said with a chuckle. My dad just gave a knowing nod.

We pulled up to the arena.

"Let's get this guys night started" Aladdin said.

It may have been guys night, but I spent nearly the whole night thinking about Mal.

Some cute Bal! The big meeting is next.

Reviews are love!