Mal was looking in the distance
She had heard Ben through their connection, but she still needed time and he knew it
Ben had approached Jay, Carlos, and Evie two days after their fight, he had apologized. They told him they would wait for Mal's decision
Pst decision... it's not like I can be mad at him forever
The truth was Mal had had time to think about a lot of stuff in the past few days, she knew she could potentially live without him but she didn't want to, she loved him, and for what FG had seen of their connection she had let them know that their relationship was going to be a huge change for Auradon
Mal couldn't care less about Auradon, but she could feel the magic about her future with Ben, she had decided to visit the Moors, she wanted some advice and she found exactly what she needed
Between peace and comfort, the fairies told her a lot of stories about Maleficent and they gave her the advice she needed
So when she came back she knew what she needed to do
That's how she found herself going to the Enchanted Lake and calling Ben, his answer came immediately, he was already going there
Mal smiled, they both found peace in the place where so many of their dreams had taken place
Ben arrived and cautiously walked towards her, she was facing the Lake, her feet in the water. He sat near her and waited for her to talk first
Mal: "Thank you for letting me have my space these past few days. It helped a lot"
Ben simply nodded
Mal turned to look at him: "I love you" Ben smiled a little "And I understand why you were so upset, I understand that you needed to let it out and I'm glad you chose me because it means you trust me. But what I don't understand is why you said all those awful stuff. I've never been so hurt... and I died like a hundreds times.. so you know.."
Ben looked at her, his eyes were puffy and red: "I'm so sorry, I can't find the right words to tell you how sorry I am. FG visited me because my parents were worried it was somehow connected to my father's curse... and they were right" he looked away "Apparently, his curse left some traces in me. The anger. It is no excuse for those words.. and I don't expect you to forgive me but I just wanted you to know that.."
Mal smiled: "Ben, look at me" he didn't so she raised his chin and turned his face gently towards her "Ben? Of course I forgive you. I forgave you immediately after those words came out of your mouth. I love you, I always will no matter what. Do you believe me?"
Ben: "I love you too"
Mal kissed him lightly and then backed away a few inches
Ben: "I missed you so much" he hugged her and she put her head under his chin "You really forgive me?"
Mal lifted her head and kissed him again, this time with more passion, Ben didn't expect it so he fell on his back bringing Mal with him
They separated and chuckled
Ben kissed Mal's cheeks, her nose, her chin, forehead, eyelids and between every kiss he repeated "I love you"
Mal: "Are you up for a swim?"
Ben was surprised: "You can't swim"
Mal: "Who said I will be the one swimming?"
Ben laughed and nodded
They took off their clothes but kept their underwear, Ben stared a little at Mal's body
Mal noticed and smirked: "Are you enjoying the view?"
Ben blushed: "Very much"
Mal laughed and went in the Lake, Ben followed her immediately, they stayed where Mal could touch the bottom of the Lake, they kissed for a while
Everything was perfect
It had been a few weeks since the fight and the experiment with the kids of the Isle was going great, so Ben had already programmed the arrival of the others Innocents
Mal was planning the school project, the works for the hospital had already began
Jane and Doug were helping the kids in the orphanage with some subjects like maths or science
Carlos and Lonnie were taking care of the baking class
Jay and Mal were taking care of the gym class
Evie and Audrey were in charge of the Fashion lessons for some of the girls
Celia: "Mal? Could you help me with this essay?"
Mal sat with the girl on her bed: "Sure"
They worked on the essay for a few hours
Celia: "Thanks Mal"
Mal: "Of course"
Celia: "Mal?"
Mal: "Yes?"
Celia: "How did you forgive Ben?"
Mal: "Well... I... uhm" she sighed "I love him. And what he did? Well, it wasn't pleasant of course but he didn't mean to hurt me... he wasn't being himself"
Celia: "Was it easy?"
Mal: "Forgiving him, yes. But here is the thing, you can forgive and still have the right to feel mad. I forgave him almost immediately, but it took me a few days to stop being mad at him"
Celia nodded
Mal and Ben were in what had become their office, working
Mal was writing down the details for the school project, Ben was signing some documents, checking the laws, then he turned to look at his girlfriend
Ben caressed her cheek and Mal turned to look at him
Mal smiled: "What?"
Ben: "I love you"
Mal chuckled: "Thanks"
Ben laughed
Mal: "I love you too"
Carlos and Jane were in the kitchen baking some biscuits
Jane looked at Carlos, it had been a few weeks and it was almost Christmas, and she wanted to say something to him
Jane: "Carlos?" he turned to look at her "I have to tell you something"
Carlos got worried Is she trying to dump me? I have to tell her...
Carlos: "Wait! First I have to tell you something"
Jane was surprised: "Uhm... okay"
Carlos sighed: "Jane, you know my life hasn't been normal.. and I haven't actually had any kind of relationship like the one I have with you but... when I look at you" he looked at her in the eyes "I feel at peace and at the same time I feel like my heart is going to explode. And I love that feeling because I have never been more happy" he looked at the oven "What I'm trying to say is... I think... i mean I'm pretty sure that what I feel for you is... love.."
Jane gasped, she didn't expect this, she felt the same of course but she didn't think he was ready to say it
Carlos: "If you don't feel it too.. it's totally ok"
Jane shook her head: "I love you too!"
Carlos was surprised, he smiled: "Really?"
Jane chuckled: "Yes!"
They both took a step forward without noticing, they had never kissed because Carlos knew it would have been Jane's first kiss and he wanted it to be special, respecting her time
Carlos: "Jane?"
Jane: "Yes?" she was blushing
Carlos: "Could I kiss you?"
Jane simply nodded. And they kissed. It was perfect
Christmas was approaching, Auradon Prep and the orphanage were already decorated, there was mistletoe everywhere (something that shocked the Isle kids because they knew it for being poisonous), there was a tree in the hall, the cafeteria, the common room...
Mal: "Why do they decorate so much?"
Evie: "I simply love it! I already organized our closet with the perfect outfits for every day"
Mal, Carlos, and Jay sighed under their breath: "Of course you did"
Ben arrived running in the cafeteria, Jane, Audrey, Chad, Lonnie, and Doug were right behind him.
The vks were surprised, they got up, searching for danger
Mal was worried: "What? What's wrong? What happened?"
Ben: "They are coming"
Jay: "Who?"
Jane: "From the Isle" she was trying to catch her breath, Carlos went near her with his chair and she sat "Thank you"
Mal: "What? Who's coming?" she was getting more worried
Ben: "The kids from the list"
The vks sighed in relief, sat down, and glared at the aks
Evie: "You worried us, for the love of Gothel"
Jay: "Couldn't you start the sentence with that?"
Mal shook her head: "Why do you always need to be so dramatic?"
James and Azura arrived in that moment and sat
James: "Have they already done their dramatic entrance?"
Mal: "Yeah" she gave him a French fry and to Azura she gave a smile and a wink, they had become fast-friend
The others aks glared at them and huffed
Ben: "They are coming this afternoon"
Carlos: "Cool..."
The vks were still eating then they stopped all of the sudden
Jay: "What do you mean 'this afternoon'?"
Ben smiled: "I mean that they are already on their way to come here"
The vks got up again
Mal: "We have to prepare"
Evie: "Oh my God, what will we wear?"
Carlos: "The room is a mess!"
Jay: "Let's go now!"
They left running, the aks laughed and sat at the table
The vks entered the room
Mal: "All right, Evie you take care of the outfits" Evie nodded "Carlos go in the shower now" Carlos entered the bathroom "Jay, we clean up the mess"
Once Evie was done with the outfits Carlos had finished the shower, so he dressed while she went in the shower
Mal and Jay finished cleaning up the room, it was friday and FG had already granted them the permission to throw a sleepover with the Isle kids (the younger ones were going too), the bunk beds were ready
Evie was dressed and she was doing her make up: "Mal go now"
Mal took a fast shower, then exited, Evie grabbed her
Evie: "Come here" Mal sat at the make up chair (that's how they called it)
Jay went in the shower, Evie finished Mal's make up and she went to dress, Jay exited the bathroom and sat at the chair to put his usual line of eyeliner under the eye and then went to dress himself
Mal: "Are we ready?"
They all looked at each other
Mal was wearing her favorite black skinny jeans with a purple jumper, a purple and green beanie, and a pair of green sneakers. Evie was wearing a blue dress with black tights, a red leather jacket, and a pair of stiletto heels. Carlos was wearing black Jean's, a white and blue jumper, blue beanie, and a pair of black and blue sneaker. Jay was wearing a pair of black cargo pants, red jumper, and a pair of black boots.
Evie: "No, Jay your eyeliner"
Jay went in front of the mirror and cleaned the line: "Now?"
Evie: "Perfect"
Mal: "Ok, the room is clean, the bathroom too. We are dressed, Jay's eyeliner is perfect"
Carlos: "Let's go"
The vks went in the garden and stayed there
Ben and the others knocked at the vks door but nobody answered
Jane: "I think I know where they are"
Everyone turned to look at her
Jane: "Garden"
They went out and they did find the vks standing in the garden, waiting for the bus
Ben: "Guys?" the four turned around "What are you doing here?"
Jay: "Waiting"
Ben looked at his watch: "It'll take another half an hour at least"
Evie: "We'll wait here"
Doug: "Standing?"
Mal and Carlos shrugged: "Why not?"
Audrey was holding hands with Azura: "It's cold"
The vks laughed
Evie: "On the Isle it's way more cold"
James: "But won't you get tired standing for half an hour?"
Mal: "You Auradonians are really lazy"
Carlos: "They are almost here"
Ben: "Well, since we are here" he went to stay between Evie and Mal
James: "I'll stay too"
A bus arrived, it was from the orphanage, the kids got out, hugged the other vks
Mal: "Go in our room, it'll be like a surprise"
Jian nodded and they ran to the vks room
A bus was heard
Mal: "They are here!"
Ben took a step forward and a deep breath
Evie: "I'm about to cry"
The bus stopped, and four teenagers got out
There was a girl, with black curly hair, fair skin and blue eyes, she wore a deep purple and black long highwaist dress, it had a square neckline, a pair of black sneakers and a leather jacket. Then there were three boys: one had sandy brown hair and green eyes, he wore brown leather pants, a tshirt and a brown leather jacket, and a pair of boots, he was the shortest out of the four; one had black hair and black eyes, he was Asian, he wore black leather pants, a white blouse and a black leather jacket, a pair of black sneakers, he was taller than the girl; the last one had brown hair and blue eyes, he wore a pair of jeans, a black blouse, a pair of black and white sneakers, he was the tallest
Carlos ran to hug Gil, Evie went to hug Liang, Mal threw herself at Richard (much to Ben's dismay), Jay smiled at Mary and went to hug her
James locked eyes with the girl and was speechless, he felt like he had held his breath for his entire life and only then was able to breathe
Mary was looking at him too
Richard and Mal were talking until Ben cleared his throat, they all turned to look at him
Ben blushed: "Sorry" he smiled "I'm Ben, I'm happy to welcome you to Auradon"
The isle kids shared a look, Mal went to stand by Ben and nodded
Richard smirked: "I'm Richard, son of Prince John"
Mary smiled and bowed: "I'm Mary, oldest daughter of Gothel"
Gil was shy but said: "I'm Gil.. I'm the son of Gaston... the only one alive"
Mal smiled sadly and went to hug him
Liang: "I'm Liang, oldest brother of Jian"
Richard turned to look at Mal: "So, love where are the others?"
Ben frowned but Mal smiled again
Mal: "Surprise!"
Carlos: "Let's go inside"
Ben was leading the group, beside him there was James, Carlos and Evie were talking with Gil, Jay was talking with Richard and Liang, Mal was talking with Mary
They arrived in front of the vks room
Jay: "You ready?"
The four Isle teens nodded, Mal knocked on the door that opened
The kids inside: "Surprise!"
Mary ran to hug Francine, that was dressed just like her oldest sister, Richard went to hug Francesco and Martina, Liang went to hug his brother Jian, and Gil went to hug Squearky and Squirmy, then they all hugged in a group hug
Mary: "How are you? Did you eat?"
Francine: "Yes yes. Here the food is great"
Mary smiled and nodded, then she hugged her sister again
Gil: "Your father asked me to tell you that he loves you and miss you very much" the twins started crying "Also, Ursula and Uma said the same thing"
Queenie: "How is my mother?"
Mary: "Don't worry, she is ok. But she misses you" she turned to look at Dizzy "Your grandma, your aunt, and your mom miss you"
Dizzy started crying, Evie went to comfort her
Celia: "What about my dad?"
Liang: "Oh you know him, he's the usual moody man" Celia smiled at that "He sent this card for you" it was an ace of hearts
Richard turned to look at Mal: "I guess we are all sleeping here"
Mal nodded: "This Monday the holidays start, we can go and stay at the Castle" she looked at Ben "Apparently Christmas is a big deal around here"
Ben smiled and went to stay by her side, he side hugged her: "It is"
Mary: "Why there are mistletoes everywhere? It's dangerous"
Evie: "It's a very romantic thing. When you walk under a mistletoe you have to kiss whoever is in front of you"
Richard: "Even if you aren't a thing?"
Evie nodded
James was still looking at Mary: "I haven't introduced myself. I'm James, Rapunzel's son"
Mary smiled a little and did a little curtsey
Mal: "So, the school is practically empty, wanna do a tour?"
Richard: "Sure, lead the way princesses"
Ben frowned again: Who the hell does he think he is?
Mal laughed: "Come on then"
Ben looked at her, she hadn't notice his discomfort and was acting like everything was normal... maybe this Richard was one of the many adventures Mal had... Ben wasn't judging... he was just... he didn't know how to call this emotion...
Jealous?
Ben looked at Mal again, it had been her voice in his head to suggest it... but maybe she was right
Mal grabbed his hand and locked eyes with him before winking at him, Ben relaxed immediately
They exited the room and went at the cafeteria
Jay: "Here is where the magic happen. Food"
Everyone laughed
Then FG appeared
FG: "Hello, you must be the new students, I'm Fairy Godmother, but you can call me FG. I'm the headmistress, if you need anything come in my office and I'll help. Also we will see eachother in the Remedial Goodness 101 class, with Mal, Jay, Carlos, and Evie" she smiled sweetly "Good tour
She left to go back to her office
Evie: "Let's take a look at the classrooms"
Carlos: "What do you think?"
Mary: "It certainly is different from Evil Palace"
Mal: "Definitely"
Mary: "Uma told us about some girl..." she looked at Carlos with a knowing smile "Jane? Your girlfriend?"
Carlos smiled: "Yeah, she is my girlfriend"
Richard: "Well, will you introduce us?"
Carlos: "Sure"
Evie: "She is with the others, in Audrey's room"
Mal knocked at Audrey's door
Audrey's muffled voice: "A moment!" then she opened the door to find almost 20 people there "Uhm...?"
Mal smiled: "Dear niece, I want to introduce you to four more of us" she indicated them "Mary, Gil the blondie, Liang, and Richard the lover boy"
Richard took a step forward and took Audrey's hand and kissed it: "My pleasure"
Audrey chuckled and blushed: "Hello, I'm Audrey. Come in"
Everyone entered, Audrey's room was one of the largest (like Ben's) so it could fit a lot of people
Jane and Lonnie were on Audrey's bed, Chad and Doug were at her desk, Azura was on the red armchair
Mal, Evie, Queenie, Celia, and Dizzy went to sit on the bed too, Francine and Martina went to sit on the sofa with Squearky and Squirmy, Francesco sat with Jian on the floor near the sofa
Gil, Liang, Mary, and Richard stand by the door with Carlos and Jay
Ben and James went to stay near the desk with Doug and Chad
Audrey went to stay in the armchair near Azura
Mal: "Well go on, introduce yourself"
Hey theree
We are almost at the end of the story
I won't drag it too long
Hope you are enjoying it
Suggestion always welcomed
Byeeee
