Collaboration with Xez2003

The corridor was drafty. Mal's ankles were cold as she shifted from side to side to keep ice forming on them. Ben kept clearing his throat, over and over. He had walked her back to their room after Jay'd left. Now, they were both trying to figure out what he wanted to say.

"Listen," he began. "We're going to get this all fixed." Mal watched him twist his hands as he fidgeted. "I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

After a minute of complete silence, Mal looked away. "Of course," she whispered.

"That being said, we probably need to take a few more precautions to keep you safe."

Mal took a breath. "Right."

"And I'll make sure there are guards outside your door."

Mal nodded, still avoiding his gaze. "That'd be appreciated."

"Maybe it'd be best if you took some with you when you go outside the castle too."

"I can deal with that. It might also be a good idea for us not to be seen together for a while."

Ben bit his lip. "Mal, I'm sorry."

Mal closed her eyes and tried to take another breath. "It's… not your fault. I was always going to be a target."

"Still, I-"

"Thank you, Ben." she interrupted. Silence overtook them until Mal spoke again. "It's quite late. Goodnight."

Ben wilted. "Right, yes, of course. Goodnight, Mal."

"Is the king still in an angry mood, then?" Jay asked. They were approaching the palace now - coming up on the snow-shrouded rooftops and the guards peering down from the walls.

Mal rolled her eyes. "Wouldn't know. I haven't spoken to him since the church was blown up."

"Well, then you would know. That tells you everything you need to know."

Mal sighed. "I really could do without you insinuating he's keen on me all the time."

"He is keen on you. It's so obvious."

"Hush."

Jay snorted, rolled his eyes, and turned to begin walking backwards beside her. He saluted her new guards who'd been sent to escort her today with a goofy smile. They were part of the reason Mal wanted Jay to shut up - she didn't want the guards gossiping or thinking she was eyeing the king. How embarrassing.

Jay smirked at Mal. He knew what she was thinking, somehow. Maybe he knew some magic for it? Mal bit her tongue. He was so audacious, all the time, and-

"You're so close," he teased. "It's worse in your left eye than in your right, too. You're like a broken lantern."

Oh. He was laughing at her giveaway. Mal scowled and covered her left eye. Sure enough, she could see a dull green light in her hand. It had gotten better as she'd been practicing, but was still present. "Does it pass for sunlight? My hands are freezing."

"Tilt your head up a bit and it might."

Mal did so and glanced around. There weren't too many people around anyways. Jay chuckled, turned back to face straight ahead, and shoved his hands into his pockets. There was a flash of gold through the seams, but that was Mal's only indicator that he, too, was using magic. His eyes didn't have to light up for such simple spells.

There was a boy outside the palace. He was leaning back against the walls and clenching and unclenching his fists in his coat while he glanced over to the main gates, where two guards stood at attention. Mal slowed her steps.

He had black hair with a white streak in it and looked to be no more than ten. Across his cheeks was a smattering of freckles. His clothes were ragged - holes in the knees and the waist tied up with a rip from a towel and - why - that wasn't a coat at all! He was wearing an oversized mens shirt over one that was only slightly more his size. In this cold?

"I think that boy needs help," Mal whispered.

Jay glanced over. "Food?" he guessed. "He looks skinny."

"Maybe," Mal agreed. She eyed him though. The way he was glancing back at the guards, tapping his fingertips together. "He looks like he's scheming." Then, she squinted. "He looks familiar."

"Know him?"

"No. But he just looks familiar."

Mal headed straight for him. When the kid saw them coming, he tensed like he was going to run, then Mal saw him make a decision. He straightened up and tensed up his jaw.

"Can I help you?" Mal called when she was close enough to him. "Do you need help?"

The kid swallowed. "I'm just here to see my dad," he said.

"Oh, you can go in," Mal said. "The guards won't stop you. Or they shouldn't. Did they?"

"No, I haven't asked yet," the kid said. "It's just, well, I don't know where to go. So I'd have to ask one of them to take me to him."

"I can take you," Mal invited. "I work here. Come on."

She beckoned and the kid came off the wall and over to them. Jay pulled off his coat and dropped it on the lad's shoulders. "It's too cold to be out here without anything," he said. "Aren't you frozen solid yet?"

The kid laughed. "Nearly," he agreed.

"What's your name?" Mal asked. They passed underneath the gazes of the guards at the wall and began heading up to the castle. The boy was now looking a bit pale, but still clenched his jaw as he marched alongside them.

"I'm Carlos. Thanks for helping me."

"Anytime." Mal led Carlos up the steps to the entrance and then paused. "You ought to give Jay back his coat now so he can make it home. "I'm sure there's something lying around in here we can give you instead."

Carlos shrugged off the coat and passed it back to Jay. Jay saluted them both. "And this is where we part," he announced. "I've got to run and go get some stuff for my dad."

"You keep your hands out of other people's pockets," Mal said sternly. "Do you hear me, Jay?"

"Yes, your majesty."

Mal stuck her tongue out as Jay as he jumped out of reach and down the stairs, laughing.

"Your majesty?" Carlos asked.

"He likes to joke since I work here. I'm just a servant." Mal ran a hand through her hair and then opened the door to usher him in. "Now, would you happen to know where your dad works? Is he a guard, or a servant… maybe a cook?"

"Actually, no." Carlos cleared his throat. "I'm here to see the King of Auradon."

Mal blinked. "You said you were here to see your dad."

"He is my dad."

"Ben doesn't have any kids."

"Do you really think he'd tell anyone about a kid on the streets?" Carlos snorted and shook his head. "Listen, lady, I know it's crazy, but I'm the real deal. Here-" He dug into his pocket, fished for a moment, and then came up with a golden band. "This was my mom's."

Mal stared at the object. It was a ring with the beast crest on it. The same beast crest as the ring that Ben wore.

That was impossible, right? Ben would have been sixteen when he was born… maybe? A young king taken away by all the flashy new toys his position offered?

Either way, there was really only one person who could confirm or deny that. "Okay," Mal exhaled. "Come on, then."

She led Carlos up the stairs, fuming with every step. What if Ben did really have a son? A son he'd left on the streets all his life? That was rich - the benevolent king of Auradon with his own son shivering with a second ripped shirt for a coat? Shameful.

And how did that make her feel? Odd, she almost felt betrayed. Why? It wasn't like Ben had promised her anything.

His office door was closed, but she could hear Adam talking behind it. Should she wait? She and Ben hadn't really said anything since he'd left her at her room the other night. Maybe…

But she was so angry that she pounded on the door anyway, tossing all thought for propriety out of her mind. Even if this wasn't Ben's son, he was cold and out on the streets and Mal didn't know why she was coming up for excuses about why she was angry, but-

Adam opened the door and immediately went to close it again. Mal stuck her foot in the crack. "Ben?" she asked. Always best to speak directly to the main man.

"Mal?" Ben asked. "Dad, knock it off."

Adam let the door open again. Mal walked up to the desk. She put her hands on it to steady herself, aware of how forward the movement would seem to Ben. Then, all words left her as she stared.

His eyes were wide. His hair messed up, though he was trying to straighten it now. Shirt tucked into slacks and a white vest over that… silver cufflinks… the whole deal. The whole Ben.

Oh, how dare he!

She opened her mouth, but Ben spoke first. "You're angry," he observed.

"A bit," she agreed. Adam sniffed.

"What is it?" Ben asked. "How can I make it better?"

Mal turned her gaze towards the doorway. Carlos was there, shoulders shaking, eyes wide, and still fighting the last of his shivers. He swallowed.

"Who's this?" Ben asked. Then, a frown. "Oh lad, you look freezing. Can we get you something? Some food?"

"Why is he here?" Adam demanded. "Mal, you're interrupting a discussion to show us-"

"I came to talk to you," Carlos announced. Then, quieter, "I came to talk to you."

Ben leaned forward. "About what?" he whispered. "Tell me. I'll help you."

Carlos's lower lip wavered. "About what you did last week," he said. "I need you to undo it."

"Undo it," Ben repeated, looking a little lost.

Carlos straightened up. "I used to work in the factories," he said. His lower lip curled and he clenched his hands into fists at his side. "But all the kids lost their jobs last week because you said so. My friends and I are all starving because of you. You did it in winter, and we're freezing, and the factory won't let us stay there anymore. Since I don't have a mom to help me out, I figured I should come ask my father if he'd be willing to acknowledge my presence and let me have my job back."

Ben looked lost. That helped soothe Mal's fury. She stepped back and waited.

"I told you," Adam said. "I said you should wait. Now both the factories and these kids are struggling. You should have-"

Ben held up a hand to stop them. "We'll help your friends," he said slowly. "But I'm not going to let you kids work in the factories. You should be in school. Learning."

"Learning doesn't buy food!" Carlos said. "Listen, if you want to help out and make up for being a lousy dad, you should do this one thing right."

"Kid, um, what's your name?"

"Carlos."

"Carlos, listen… I'm not your dad. I don't know who told you that, but I'm not. And I won't reinstate the factory policy, but we'll take care of you. And your friends. Okay?"

"You are my dad and I want nothing to do with you. I just want my job back. You never cared anyway."

"Ben," Mal tried to break in. "He's got a-"

"Oh, for goodness sakes, child!" Adam sighed. "Ben doesn't have any children. There are days I doubt he knows what a woman looks like!"

Mal blinked. It wasn't like Adam to snap at Ben like that. Ben glared at Adam. "There are days I think you forget who's in charge here," he said. He turned back to Carlos. "Listen, I don't know who you are, but I still want to help…"

"Ben, you may want to see-"

Ben's gaze cut her thought off before she could get it all out. "There's no way," he said flatly. "It's impossible for me to have a son. I haven't-" His face turned a bit red as he chewed on his cheek, but he pushed on. "I haven't… known a woman."

"My momma said that it was the King," Carlos insisted. He dug into his pocket and procured the golden ring with the beast crest on it. "Her name was Emmalie and she showed me this."

Ben's face turned green and grey and he sputtered as he jumped away, out of his chair and up against the wall. "I don't know this woman," he insisted. "I never gave anyone a ring."

"Wait," Adam said.

Everyone went really, really quiet. Ben stared at his dad. Mal could feel her heartbeat beating in her ears as she stared at Ben, saw the wheels turning, felt the dread creeping up her spine like ice. "What do you mean, wait?" he snapped.

Adam sat down in a chair beside the wall and covered his face with one hand. "I knew an Emmalie. I knew… he might…"

"What do you mean, you know an Emmalie?" Ben exploded. "You are married! To my mother!"

"It was years ago!" Adam protested. "Belle had been gone for two years and you were off-the-walls crazy. I was feeling lonely, Ben. Pent-up!"

"Pent-up?" Ben yelled. "What do you mean? Spit it out!"

"She was a prostitute!" Adam sighed. "How was I supposed to know she'd have a baby?"

"How were you supposed to - is that even a question?" Ben slammed his hands down on his desk. "You know how children are made! I'm a testament!"

"You don't understand, Ben!" Adam said. "Once you're married, you'll understand how hard it is. Your life is entirely politics! It's difficult being alone!"

"That's absolutely rich. No, this isn't about being alone or what you're focusing on. This is about having self-control and common decency and not-"

Mal covered Carlos's ears. "There are women and children present!" she reminded Ben sharply. She took the ring from Carlos and examined it. "It looks exactly like yours," she told Ben.

"Of course. Mine's the official one. There's a handful of copies and they all symbolize loyalty to the royal family. Dad, Mom, Chad, they've all got one. Even Audrey has one." Ben pulled his off his finger. "Mine has the sapphires in the eyes. That's the only difference."

"Why would you give a ring to a prostitute?" Mal asked Adam, who was pinching his nose.

"She asked for protection. That was her play for keeping secret. She wanted a safeguard for if she ever needed help and I wanted her to not say anything to anyone. So she got the ring and after, I think, two months, I didn't require her services anymore and I never heard from her again."

Ben slammed his head into the wall. Carlos looked in between the two. "So… you're not my dad," he said softly.

"Mal," Ben hissed. "Would you please get Carlos some food and some warmer clothes. I know it's not your job…"

"Got it," Mal said, putting her hands on Carlos's shoulders and starting to pull him out of the office. "We'll talk later."

"I'll make it up to you, I swear-"

Mal pulled Carlos out of the office and shut the door. The moment it was shut, she heard Ben's voice through the door as clear as if there wasn't a heavy wooden door in between them at all.

"I really need a solid explanation within the next five minutes that doesn't involve you back-mouthing me or-"

Mal took Carlos back to her room for the fire and some warm clothes. Belle was still asleep and showed no signs of having woken up while Mal was gone. The potion-lotion was hidden behind the books on the shelf. Mal pulled it down while Carlos changed in the bathroom.

"Will King Ben help me?" He wondered out loud to Mal as he took a hesitant seat on her bed.

"Ben helps everyone. Don't worry."

Evie's lotion had helped ease Belle's coughing over the last few days. She would wake up every few hours, eat, cough up the liquid in her lungs, and sometimes talk briefly with Ben, Adam, or Mal. Ben had usually come in over every lunch and dinner break to sit beside her, but Mal always left him alone.

Mal focused on rubbing the lotion into Belle's skin and listening to her deep breathing for so long that when the knock at the door came, she almost jumped out of her skin. She went to the door. Ben. He wasn't yelling, which was probably a good sign. Mal let him in and he went to sit beside Belle, cup her cheek, and squeeze her hand. Mal put the lotion away up on the shelf. Carlos had drifted off in her bed, so she pulled the covers up over him and let him stay snuggled up.

She and Ben had mutually decided to not talk to each other. They hadn't been speaking for weeks. But now, like floodgates opening, suddenly that was over.

"I'm so irritated!" Ben announced out of the blue, just as she was picking up a book to take out of the room. She jumped. Had he spoken to her? Was Belle awake?

But Ben turned around and his hands were shaking as he took a deep breath. "Will you stay?" he asked. "I just… need a second opinion."

Mal set the book back down and pushed a chair up beside Ben and Belle before she took a hesitant seat. Belle gave a cough in her sleep and Ben reached over to cup her cheek before he sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"I don't know what to do about my dad and brother," Ben whispered. At the mention, Mal glanced over at the kid, whose head was tilted to the side with her pillow stuffed up underneath his chest.

"Get us a new bed and I'll take care of him," Mal whispered. "It won't be a problem."

"No, no." Ben shook his head. "I mean, I would. I appreciate the offer and I would take you up on it. But he's not my son. My dad gets that call." He ran his hands through his hair, creating an unfashionable lump on the side of his head. "He wants Audrey."

"Audrey," Mal repeated. "He wants Audrey to take care of him? Seriously."

"Yeah." Ben scoffed. "He wants me to let her back in, give her a room, and she'll watch his kid for him. I just-" He pulled at his hair and squeezed his eyes shut. "What do you think?"

Mal pinched her lips closed. "Well, you know I hate Audrey, but is it worth fighting with your dad over?"

"I could always say 'Not in my castle' and then he'd have to either pick someone else or move out."

"Could you maybe just… let her have a place and say 'Talk to me and you're gone?'"

Ben considered this, head tilted back and face frozen in a frown. He looked like he was waiting for the sun to come out. After a few seconds without a response, she nudged his arm. He nodded. "I guess I could," he muttered. "Just say 'talk to me, talk to Mal, I'll personally put you into a snowbank."

"I appreciate your protection." Mal glanced back at Carlos. "In advance, it's fine if he ends up here most of the time. I wouldn't wish Audrey on anyone."

"Maybe if he hates Audrey too, we can convince Dad to let her go."

Mal hummed. She reached for Belle's hand and squeezed it before a thought came to her. "Why does your dad like Audrey so much?"

Ben shrugged. "He, uh, always has. He arranged a betrothal between us when we were kids. My mom let me out of it because I hated her so much."

"Belle told me. But I bet you probably would have dropped her the moment you became king anyway."

"Very true, very true." Ben leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "I guess… maybe they're just like-minded. Maybe Dad was hoping she'd balance me out or something."

"Typically you balance two good things out together. Not a good thing and a bad thing."

Ben chuckled, then tilted his head in thought. "Am I a good thing?"

The back of her neck grew hot. "Well, you're not a horrible thing, but-"

"Mal?"

Ben and Mal both turned as Carlos sat up in bed. He rubbed under his eyes with both hands the same way Ben did when he was tired and Mal resisted the urge to grin and poke Ben. He swung his legs over and came to stand beside them, stifling a yawn. "What's going to happen now?" he asked. "Did you guys decide?"

"Oh, you'll stay here, champ." Ben put a hand on Carlos's shoulder. "You'll stay here and everything will be alright. All your friends… we'll help them out. It'll all work out."

Carlos looked down at Belle. "Who's she?" he asked.

"This is Ben's mom," Mal explained. "It's my job to look after her."

"Are you going to look after me too?"

"No. Your dad wants someone else to."

Belle's hand abruptly tightened on Mal's and Mal spun around. Her eyes were open and she was glancing around and staring in between Ben and Carlos in confusion. "How long was I asleep?" She asked.

Ben suddenly grew panicked. He looked at Mal for help. Mal bit her lip. This was a trainwreck in the making. She picked up Belle's other hand and, staring at Ben, gave a sharp nod to Carlos. "Get him out," she tried to signal.

"Oh, you've only been asleep for a day, Belle," Mal tried to console her as Ben took Carlos by the shoulder and began to take him to the door. "I gave you some food the last time you woke up. Do you remember?"

Belle clutched her head and tried to sit up. "Everything's foggy," she whispered. Ben reappeared in the door and closed it behind him. He came up behind Mal and put his hands on her shoulders while he hovered anxiously. Belle looked at Ben's hands. Her expression brightened. "Oh, I must have been out of it for quite a long time," she said. "What's this?"

"This is nothing," Mal said, brushing Ben's hands away. "Ben's just…" She glanced up at him, praying for help.

"I, uh, was just standing behind Mal, Mom. Nothing romantic about it."

Belle peered around to the door. "I must be out of it," she chuckled. "I saw a boy who looked exactly like you, Ben. But he had darker hair."

"Oh no, there wasn't any-" Mal smacked Ben's arm. He gave her a bewildered look. Mal drew Belle's focus by leaning in a bit to whisper.

"His name is Carlos. Audrey will be taking care of him, but you'll probably see him from time to time. You know - he might want to escape her."

Belle looked up at Ben. "Who is he?" she asked.

Ben closed his eyes, brought his hands up to hide his face, and turned to thump his head against the wall. Mal swallowed. There wasn't exactly an easy way to break this news to Belle.

"Ben," she whispered. "What if I leave you two alone?"

"Oh, please don't," he begged. "Please, Mal. Please don't make me."

"Ben, she's your mom!"

"Mal, she's my mom!"

"Ben, don't you think this would be better coming from-"

"I'll take it from here." The three of them all looked up towards the door. Adam, who seemed quite tall despite how small he'd seemed in the office, was standing straight in the doorway. He approached Belle's bedside, got to his knees, and clasped his hands like he was praying. His expression, however, was stone cold.

Ben immediately made for the door. Mal lingered, then backed off a few steps. Ben could leave. He deserved the privacy. This was a major part of his life that had been seemingly ruined. But Mal? Mal was Belle's caretaker. And it was impossible to know how much care Belle was about to need.

"The summer after you left, I was lonely," Adam began with his voice scarcely a whisper. "I was lonely, you weren't there, I missed you. So bad, Belle. Ben, Ben's always been like you. You're both - expressive and wild and sometimes I'd be chatting with him and he'd be stubborn or smart and it felt like you were there. But I… missed more than your personality. I missed being with you. That was hard for me."

Adam took a deep breath. "Ben started to go… absolutely insane when he took the throne. He had all these ideas and goals and I could never keep up with the boy! He didn't listen to anyone and he didn't listen to me and I felt alone, Belle. So I went and found someone so I didn't have to be lonely."

"That boy out there is mine, Belle. His mother is dead now, but he has a ring I gave his mother for protection."

Belle turned her face away from Adams. "Leave me," she whispered.

"Belle, you have to understand that I was-"

"Adam, get out of my face," Belle snapped. Tears began to run down her cheeks in streams Mal took a handkerchief from the bed. Belle took it, but then waved her away too. "No, no, please go," she said in a strangled tone.

"Belle, you need to listen to me," Adam said. "I was alone. Ben was insane. And I-"

Mal couldn't stand another word of his useless ramblings. She pulled him back with a hand. "Out!" she demanded. "She said out. Leave now."

"Belle," Adam whined. "Please!" He batted Mal's hands away.

"Stab him, Mal," Belle said. Mal's eyes grew wide. Adam's too. He sputtered on the floor and Mal realized what Belle was trying to do.

"As you wish," she agreed. She went to the stocking drawer and pulled out a long, silver knife. Adam jumped up and sprinted out of the room.

"Call her off, Belle!" he called. "I'm out. I'll leave you be."

Mal replaced the knife. "Do you want me to-"

"No." Belle shook her head fast. "No."

Mal left. As she shut the door, she heard Belle break down. The poor woman was going to cry her whole heart out.

Adam fixed his suit. He looked regretful, sad, but not guilty in the slightest. He looked down at Carlos. "Have you been set up with a room?" he asked.

"I thought I'd be here," Carlos said.

"Oh, never," Adam wrinkled his nose. "Come on, lad. Belle's just having a cry. I'll find you a place to go." He put his hand on Carlos's shoulder and led him away. Mal couldn't resist sticking her tongue out at his back. Poor Carlos looked lost beyond measure. He kept looking back the further they got. Mal wished she could rescue him from Adam and Audrey's talons, but no avail.

Where had Ben gone?

She took a deep breath and let the world become still. Belle was still sobbing in the bedroom, but she listened for something deeper. The scrape of shoes was getting softer, but that wasn't it.

Then she heard a sound like a heartbeat out in the entrance and followed it. On the top step was Ben. He, too, was crying.

Mal waited until she was sure Adam was far enough away and sat down beside him. He peered up at her and tried to cut off his sobs. "Oh, gosh, don't look at me like this," he said and tried to turn away. Mal caught his shoulder and turned him back to her.

It was a slow decision. She wasn't even sure when she actually made it. But she found her hands parting and her arms spreading and the distance somehow stitched itself together. Ben leaned into her and began to cry more. She let her arms settle around his back and leaned her chin on his shoulder and closed her eyes. "It'll be okay. Belle's a strong lady. You're a strong guy. It'll hurt for a bit, but it'll be okay."

"I know. I know. I think it's just-" he wiped his eyes. "Shock."

Mal balled up his shirt in her hand and then smoothed it back down again. "I felt the same way when my mother died," she whispered. "It's okay."

Ben sniffed a little more and wiped the last of his tears away. He didn't move to let her go, but did turn his ear slightly to the side. "What did… what did he say?"

"I assume I just witnessed a typical King Adam response. He blamed it all on you being insane and leaving him alone."

"His support is marvelous," Ben snorted. He paused. "Do I ever do that?"

Mal got the sense it was more of an internal question than one for her to answer, but hummed and answered anyway. "You took accountability for lying to me about that meeting. So I'd say no."

Ben laughed. It was a relief to hear that instead of the crying still floating down from Belle's room.

Audrey's carriage arrived at sundown. She was dressed in a brown dress with none of the poof she usually had. Her hair was braided back. She didn't even have a fan.

She stumbled up the last stair on her way to stand in front of Ben, Adam, Carlos, and Mal, who had been caring for Carlos while they waited for Audrey. Carlos was now wearing thick clothes, warm shoes and socks, and Mal had attempted to straighten his unruly hair. Audrey cleared her throat when she saw him.

"Is this him?" she asked. "Little Prince Carlos?"

Carlos looked like he wanted to run and hide at the name. Ben squeezed his shoulder. "Carlos, this is Audrey. Audrey, Carlos. Carlos, Audrey is the person Dad wants to take care of you, but I want to tell you now that if Audrey mistreats you, she won't be around. Her behavior is going to be proportional to the length of her stay."

Audrey didn't shake or wilt. She just looked at the ground. Mal watched her twist a ring on her finger. The golden copy of Ben's ring. Audrey certainly didn't deserve that protection.

Adam pushed Carlos forward towards Audrey and Audrey opened an arm to fit around his shoulders. Mal resisted the urge to frown. She didn't like that and could tell Ben disliked it too. Nothing to be done, though.

"I have two conditions," Ben announced as Audrey moved to walk around him. She stilled and didn't dare to meet his eyes as he crossed his arms. "I don't want to interact with you," he said. "Don't seek me out, don't leave me notes, don't make eyes at me across rooms. I don't want to see you."

Audrey nodded. "I understand," she whispered. "What's the second?"

"The same goes for Mal," Ben said. Audrey's head snapped up and her eyes flew open. She looked shocked at Ben's unwavering gaze.

"Don't talk to Mal," Ben continued. "Don't say stupid things aloud when you know she's passing by. Don't go to talk to my mother just so you can get in the way. Mal is just as busy as you will be, if not more busy, and I expect you to leave her to her life. That's all at the moment, but I do reserve the right to add more."

Audrey's jaw was as stiff as a metal joint without oil as she put her head down and entered the palace without another word. Adam followed her, equally wordlessly. Mal closed her eyes, wondering if or how she should talk to Ben, and when she opened them, everyone was gone.

This didn't look too complicated, Mal thought as she examined the diagram in the book. She opened the door to the sitting room, sat down at the piano with a smile, dropped the book on a nearby chair, and fingered the keys. Moments later, a tune began floating around the room.

"Someone's been practicing." Mal stopped and looked up, startled at the unexpected female intruder. "It's true what people say. Sometimes all you need is the right teacher," the woman continued.

"Evie," Mal smiled. Evie closed the door and leaned against it. Her hair was neatly tucked inside her ever-present hat while a pretty blue cloak framed her petite shoulders.

"How is Ben doing?" Evie asked, coming to lean against the piano as Mal fumbled a key.

Mal squinted at Evie. "Oh, goodness, not you too," she exclaimed with a sigh.

Evie held up her hands. "Hey, I just asked the question,"

"Oh, I know very well what you were trying to ask," Mal snorted. "You and Jay."

Evie raised an eyebrow "Jay?"

"He's," Mal stammered. "Oh, sorry - someone from town. He's nice. Tall and handsome. Magical too."

"You're not fooling anyone, Mal." Evie crossed her arms. "You know you aren't."

Mal's lips flattened as her cheeks turned a light red. Evie was staring at her with the corner of her mouth crooked up. She turned her head away and began to fidget with the hem of her sleeves.

Evie laughed. "I think it's funny, how whenever you come talk to him, he always tries to straighten up."

Mal's head snapped back. "He does not," she replied, raising her voice.

"Have you ever noticed him fix his hair when you're around?" Evie quipped with a teasing smile. "I'm beginning to think he's insecure about it."

"Oh, Evie, don't you have anything better to do?" Mal huffed out the last of her frustration and took a deep breath to cool. "Evie," she continued with her expression turning serious. "Could you maybe help me with Belle again? She's sleeping more and more.. I think she's fading."

"She is, Mal." There was a sudden sad gleam in Evie's eyes. "She has an infection in her lungs. That's something I can't get rid of. Is she still coughing?"

"No. It's eased." Mal replied

"There's almost nothing else I could do then." She sighed. "Most of my magic is in animation and chemistry. I could make you poisons and potions, but I'm not a healer."

Mal clasped Evie's hand. "Well, thank you. For everything you've been able to do. You've probably given her-"

"Mal?"

Evie panicked and jumped away from the piano. She managed to hide herself in a corner as the door opened. She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and spun it in her hand. It jumped to life, hovered above her head, and then grew and grew until it encompassed her and she was gone. Just in time. Ben poked his head in. "Hey. I thought I heard music."

"I was just…" Mal stammered.

Ben leaned against the doorway. "I thought you said you couldn't play?"

Mal snorted. "Well, with Belle always being asleep, I figured now would be a good time to learn."

Ben closed the door behind him and walked up to Mal. He rested his hand on the piano top and waited. "Let's hear it then."

Mal shrugged and her fingers took up the soft tune they'd played last time. She looked up for approval.

"Still a little shaky." Ben moved to sit on the bench beside her. "Here, let's try from the top together and go slow."

His side was against hers, so warm and making her want to jump for joy and be sick at the same time. Mal immediately stood up. "It's probably better if I go back up to Belle, actually."

"Mal, wait," Ben exclaimed, grabbing her arm. "Just a moment. I don't bite, you know."

Ben guided her to sit back on the bench. He smiled and continued to play. "Come on, join me."

Mal hesitated and then took up the upper bars of the song. Ben watched her a moment, then he straightened his fingers on the keys and joined her.

"You play really well," he complimented her.

Mal sighed. "Well, I've done enough other things with my hands."

Ben glanced sideways at her, still smiling. "You're a hard worker."

Mal focused on the keys. "So are you."

"I'm definitely a body-builder of mental capacities," Ben quipped after a few moments of silence. The joke was enough to get Mal to turn her head back towards him. "I appreciate you playing with me," he said.

Mal smiled as her heart picked up speed. She had to admit – it was nice spending time around Ben. He was smart, kind and honest - more than any other person she'd met before. "I appreciate you letting me play with you." She took a deep breath. "You know, putting up with my… averageness." Mal stopped playing and bowed her head to shield her eyes from him.

"You okay?" Ben asked.

"Yeah, yeah, of course." Mal replied and turned back towards him. "Um, I just realized I never apologized for… storming into your office. I don't know why I was so angry."

Ben tilted his head to one side and examined her. "Angry?"

"About Carlos." She admitted. "Just… the way he was dressed and out on the streets, and then thinking he was your son. It made me mad."

"It'd make anyone mad." Ben replied, nodding in understanding. "I want to do something to help them. All of them."

Mal laughed. "You always want to help everyone."

"I do, yes. That's the goal."

"You know," Mal shifted uncomfortably, recalling what he'd said at the lake; how he regretted always focusing on politics and putting off finding someone special in his life. Wishing he'd get to see his mom with his kids before it was too late. "All things considered, you'd make an excellent father one day. You fit the bill perfectly."

A silence formed for a few seconds. "Thank you."

Mal met his gaze and her heart began to thump against her ribcage as her throat went dry.

Someone's heels clicked past the door and the pair's eyes shot to the door.

Mal swallowed. "I better go."

"It's just Audrey," Ben said with a shrug. "I saw her going by earlier. She's just on her way back. She won't bother us."

"That's…" Mal began before brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her left ear, "all the more reason to go, Ben."

Ben's shoulders dropped. "Oh, of course. Sorry," he replied and frowned as Mal got up and left the room without looking back at him.

Collaboration with Xez2003