Disclaimer: I do not own Descendants or any of its characters. I only own my OC, Rosalie Radcliffe. Any of the story line that seems familiar, I most likely do not own.
Family Day had arrived for Auradon Prep. Everywhere Rosalie looked there were happy students with their parents. The remake of Be Our Guest was a huge hit. Rosalie had refused to participate, knowing she'd faint from stage fright. But she was extremely proud of Ben's performance. She had made sure to tell him so the minute she found him. After chatting for a bit, he slipped away to take Mal toward his parents to introduce them. Rosalie wished she could have seen the faces of the King and Queen when Ben made his announcement. Rosalie had yet to find her parents, but she knew Freckles would go crazy when she spotted them. If Rosalie didn't know any better, she'd accuse her dog of loving her parents more. Seeing the villain kids minus Mal, Rosalie went over to say hi.
"Hey guys," Rosalie greeted, she couldn't help but hide her smile behind her hand at Carlos and Jay's fascination with the chocolate waterfall.
"Ro! Hi!" Evie gave her a quick hug around Dude.
"Are you guys having a good time?"
Evie and Rosalie made small talk while waiting for Mal and Ben. Evie excused herself to go talk with Mal which left Rosalie with Carlos and Jay.
"Here," she giggled, handing both Jay and Carlos napkins, "You've got chocolate on your faces."
Jay and Carlos were quick to correct the issue. Before the three could start up a conversation, Freckles began to whine. She was wagging her tail so hard she was shaking her body. Rosalie turned around in excitement.
"Mum! Dad!"
Rosalie was quickly pulled into a hug by both of her parents.
"Hello, darling! Your mother and I have missed you terribly!" Roger Radcliffe stated as he pulled his daughter in for another hug.
"You must tell us everything. How have your studies been? Have you made any new friends?" Anita Radcliffe smoothed down Rosalie's dress as she asked her daughter her questions.
"Actually, mum, dad, there are some people I'd like for you to meet."
It had not escaped Rosalie's attention that Jay and Carlos were attempting to slip away from herself and her parents. But if she didn't introduce them now, she doubted she'd ever be able to do so. She wanted to show her parents how the villain kids, especially Carlos, weren't like their parents.
"I'd like you to meet Jay and Carlos."
Both Jay and Carlos were nervous as they met the parents of Rosalie. Carlos knew Cruella would have a fit if she could see the civil interaction.
"It's very nice to meet you!" Anita gave the two a smile.
"Would you like to join us for the luncheon? I'm quite starved." Roger invited.
"Thank you sir, but uh, we promised our friends we'd meet up with them." Jay quickly denied.
"Well, it was very nice to meet you both!"
"You as well!" Carlos managed to squeak out before he practically bolted out of the immediate vicinity with Jay on his heels.
"For the children of villains, they were rather lovely," Anita announced after the small family, including Freckles, had put their plates together and found a place to sit.
Rosalie felt a weight lift off of her shoulders. She wasn't going to pretend that her parents wouldn't have immediately knew who the two boys were. They had been victims of Cruella's wrath enough times to know what she looked like. And the son of the de Vil looked a lot like his mother.
"I'm glad you think so," Rosalie admitted, being completely honest.
"Now, you just be careful, you hear me? I feel better with Freckles being here, but one must be cautious." Roger added.
"Roger, dear, stop that." Anita softly swatted her husband on the arm.
"I'll be careful dad. I promise. They're different from their parents. All of them. Sometimes I think they're better than some of the other students here."
Rosalie was enjoying the short time she had with her parents. The shouts from the croquet field startled her. Already knowing that the villain kids had to be involved, Rosalie wasted no time running toward the field. The VKs were leaving the field as she was approaching it.
"Guys!" she called after them, "Are you okay? What happened?"
All four of them ignored her in favor of fleeing the scene.
"Carlos?"
The de Vil hesitated, turning to meet Rosalie's gaze. Jay grabbed his arm to pull him along. Carlos mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' as Jay continued to drag him away with the two girls. Rosalie felt her heart sink. The next thing she knew she was in her mother's embrace, her father had a hand on her back.
"I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding sweetheart." Anita tried to soothe her daughter, "You'll see. Have a conversation with him tomorrow, I'm sure everything will be settled by then."
Rosalie remained mute as her parents attempted to comfort her. All she could focus on was her racing heart and the look Carlos had given her.
Last night had been a nearly sleepless night. All Rosalie could think about was what went down on the croquet field during Parent Day. She wasn't there when the incident happened, but she knew it hadn't been the villain kids' fault. It couldn't have been.
Ben had told her of his talk with the villain kids. He tried to explain what had happened with Queen Leah and Audrey and Chad Charming. Rosalie could feel her stomach twisting. The nausea due to her stress was unreal. She hadn't seen Carlos or any of the other villain kids since she saw them at the luncheon. Today was the coronation. Rosalie was wearing a black, red, and white ballgown. The skirt was all black while the bodice was off white. She complimented the dress with a red gemmed necklace and charm bracelet. Her hair was pulled back in a half up half down style. Freckles was wearing a red tutu and had black bows on her ears to match Rosalie. The pair was standing in preparation at the front of the room next to the jar that contained Fairy Godmother's wand. She could feel the marks her nails were leaving in her palms as she dug them into her skin. Rosalie had been hoping to talk to the villain kids, especially Carlos, before the coronation.
It didn't help her feel better when she failed to find them. She knew Mal would be with Ben riding up to the castle, but she had no clue where the others would be.
Carlos had been feeling similar to Rosalie. Except he knew of their plan. He knew that in the next few hours, Auradon Prep would no longer be a school for good. He couldn't bear to think of how heartbroken Rosalie would be when she found out what he had done. She had more faith in him and his friends that could only rival Ben. While in his place on the balcony with Evie and Jay, Carlos was quick to spot her. She looked beautiful as she stood patiently with Freckles obediently at her side. It hurt his heart to see her. But he couldn't bring himself to look away. He needed this. He needed to remember what she looked like before his mother destroyed her world.
Carlos remembered when he first saw her. How disheveled she was from running to catch up from being late. He remembered how she had told him about the chocolate on his face that day. They had scared each other when she had tried to warn him about it. He remembered how afraid she had acted around them. He remembered when she told him she wanted them there. He remembered the moment he had realized how alike the two of them were.
The day she had walked in during their Remedial Goodness class with Jane stuck out in his mind too. He remembered how she looked and talked. He wanted to never forget all the good about her.
He remembered meeting Freckles and Dude for the first time. How she was there to help him. It didn't escape him that she had been keeping Freckles away from him and the other villain kids simply because she didn't know how they all felt about dogs. He remembered when he found out who her parents were. How he had been stunned that she wanted to be around him. After everything his mother had done to her family, he couldn't believe that she wanted to be around him.
He also remembered how she showed them how to make mug cakes. Something so simple and easy, but she had done it because she didn't want them to feel left out. He remembered Jay teasing him about her and how he scoffed because he thought she would never want to be with someone like him.
He remembered the first tourney game he and Jay had been apart of. He remembered helping to score the winning goal for that game. He remembered how she looked when she left her dorm room with Freckles after the game to spend time with Ben. He remembered her blush when he mentioned that they were wearing similar clothes. He especially remembered the kiss she had left on his cheek before taking off down the hallway.
He remembered the day he offered to tutor her. He couldn't believe that he could be useful in their school subjects. He had been certain that she would have surpassed him in all of their classes. But knowing that she struggled, that he wasn't the only one who sometimes had a hard time understanding things, made him fall for her more.
As he continued through his thoughts, the memories were bittersweet.
He remembered helping her study. How happy she had gotten when she finally began to understand what had confused her. He remembered when he kissed her for the first time. How nervous he had been. He remembered calling her Rose for the first time. He hadn't cared that Jay had teased him mercilessly that night, he was too happy from the kiss they had shared.
He remembered the clothes she wore the next day. His heart stuttered even now at remembering seeing her wearing signature de Vil colors. He remembered Jay pressuring him to go and see her one last time in private before coronation day. He remembered pouring his heart out to her, telling her things most people didn't know about him. He remembered how she didn't judge him, how she just didn't care.
He remembered the last time he kissed her. How he had kissed her knowing it was likely the last time he'd ever be able to do so. How she had asked if he was going to be okay.
All that was good and beautiful to him was standing on the floor below him. And he was about to betray her. All he could do was hope that the outcome would be better than he thought it would be. He knew deep down that wishing for something to change was foolish as it never would, but it eased his aching heart even the smallest amount to pretend.
As the coronation officially started, Carlos openly stared at the small strawberry blonde. He would miss her, he knew. But their plan had to happen, and it had to happen now.
As much as he wished it didn't.