Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Descendants.

Chapter 5: Your Hand In Mine

Ben couldn't remember the last time his stomach felt so twisted with nerves.

"Don't be nervous."

Ben chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Is it that obvious?"

Mal grinned reaching out to hold his hand. "A bit. But it's cute," she said making him blush.

"I just want things to go well. I'm not that naive to forget that a lot is riding on this."

Mal squeezed his hand as they made their way to the front of the school where the newest VKs would be arriving: Hermie Bing, daughter of the Ringmaster; Eddie Balthazar, son of Edgar Belthazar; Little Sammy Smee, son of Mr. Smee; Big Murph, son of one of Captain Hook's pirates; Claudine Frollo, daughter of Judge Frollo; Harry and Jace Badun, cousins and the sons of Cruella's minions, Horace and Jasper; Diego de Vil, nephew of Cruella and Carlo's cousin - whom Ben wasn't even aware of until just a few weeks ago; Hadie, son of Hades; and Yzla, daughter of Yzma.

"If anyone could pull this off, it's you Ben," Mal comforted. "You always see the best in people, even when they put a love spell on you," she muttered the last part.

Her boyfriend let out of bark of laughter. "Are you talking about Uma or you?"

A light blush appeared on his lady's cheeks as she playfully hit his arm. Ben laughed and for a moment he forgot how nervous he was and instead focused on the beautiful girl next to him. Wickedly beautiful…

After the Royal Cotillion, Mal and Ben worked on having a more balanced and honest relationship. They were still often busy with their respective responsibilities but the half-fae felt more comfortable in her skin and embraced both her Auradon and Isle self equally. Long gone were the pretty pastel colored princess dresses and in their place were the familiar leather and dark colors that declared her where she came from with a mix of Auradon regalness that declared her as a future queen not to be messed with. Ben loved it and loved her even more.

"And what's that silly little lovestruck grin for?" she smirked, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Who are you thinking of?"

Ben stopped them, tugging the half-fae by the waist closer to him. "I'll give you one guess," he murmured, brushing his lips softly against hers. Once...twice...he started losing count just letting himself get lost in Mal.

"Get a room!" they heard Jay cackle closely.

Ben could feel Mal growl against his lips, probably flipping off Jay, but she didn't let her grip on Ben's blazer go until it seemed like she was sure she had left Ben blushing and almost in a daze.

"No time for dilly dallying!" Evie said pushing them apart, grabbing on of each of their arms as she pulled them along with her, like the force that she was, Carlos and Jay following behind them. "They're going to arrive soon!"

With Evie leading, Ben and the others soon found themselves at the main entrance of the school where Fairy Godmother and Jane were waiting. Carlos quickly made his way over to Jane, a shy smile on both of their faces as they linked hands. Ben smiled happy that the two were finally dating.

"Okay," Evie said letting go of Ben's and Mal's arms and addressing everyone. "It's just us. No big pomp and circumstance like last time. We want to ease them into Auradon. Everyone will have a group that they're responsible of. Ideally, if there were any problems, you would be the people they got into contact with as they transition into their new life. Got it?" Evie asked barely letting everyone answer before letting out an excited gasp when one of the limos came into view. "Oh! They're here! Everyone get ready!"

Ben took a deep breath, taking comfort from Mal as one by one the three limos pulled to a stop in front of them. With one last deep breath, Ben put on a bright and welcoming smile.

This wouldn't be so bad.

We'll Light The Fuse

Once upon a time, though not very long ago, they were younger.

They were mischief and wicked little giggles.

They were thick as thieves.

They were best friends...

"What are you looking at?" six year old Mal asked when she noticed her friend had suddenly stopped her terrorizing of the bazaar shopkeepers.

Uma glanced over her shoulder before looking back at the outside wall of a building, where a family of three with too white and too bright smiles looked out almost tauntingly from a poster that mockingly said "Be Good".

"Look, the posters changed again." Uma commented.

Mal stepped forward, squinting her nose up at the image. "Ugh! Something is wrong with their faces. Their frowns are going the wrong way."

"I think...they're smiling," Uma said tilting her head to the side.

"It's gross," Mal declared, blowing a raspberry at the young smiling boy's face. She hated his smile the most for some reason. "I bet they do nothing but smile all day until their faces get stuck."

"Or fall off," Uma laughed.

Mal laughed too. "That would actually be funny to see."

Uma paused, looking back at the picture. "What do you think it's like over there?"

The half-fae shuddered. "It's probably pink everywhere. Who would want to go there? My mom says it's all boring with their dresses and princesses, and princes and happily ever afters," Mal said. "Bleh!" she pretended to gag before seeing her friend's saddened face. "But...one day, you and I are gonna figure out a way to get pass the barrier and we're gonna burn Auradon down! Together," the little half-fae said extending out her hand.

Uma eyes sparkled brightly, grabbing Mal's forearm in a shake. "Together."

Mal smiled, that mischievous little grin before she tugged her friend along to cause more mischief throughout the isle.

It was always supposed to be Uma and Mal. Mal and Uma against the world.

Until it wasn't...

Until she had been tricked.

Stupid girl. Foolish girl. Too trusting girl.

You poor unfortunate soul...

Mal laughed. ("Look at the daughter of Ursula covered in sea sludge. Shrimpy. Everyone, laugh at poor weak little Shrimpy…")

Others laughed until she ran away.

(Run Shrimpy! Run!)

Harry was the first one to find her.

"Go. Away. Harry." Uma ground out. "I don't want to talk to you or anyone else!"

"Good," the young pirate grinned, "because I didn't come looking for ye. Ye just happened to be in the best place to go scavenging," he said shouldering past her to go deeper into the alley to start rummaging in a nearby pile of what was mostly junk.

Uma glared at him but when he still refused to stop rummaging in the junk, she snapped her head back to glare at the wall across from her. She sniffed, fighting back tears as she still felt shrimp residue in her hair despite how many times she watched it. Harry didn't comment on the lone tear that had managed to escape.

"I hate her," she said aloud.

Harry made an affirming sound, peering into an empty glass bottle. "Aye right. She's very easy to hate. Ah dinnae ken how you dealt with her."

"She-she thinks that just because her mom is big bad Maleficent that everyone should just bow down to her. But why? She's nothing! Take away her mom and she's just...she's just-!"

Harry tossed the bottle over his shoulder, looking expectantly at her. "Come on. Say it! She's what?"

"Fishbait!" Uma growled.

Harry grinned wildly. "Aye. That she is. And what was it with that evil cackle of hers, eh? It sounded so nasally. Like slugs crawled into that nose of hers that she's always turning up. Everyone knows that evil cackles should come from the belly," he said patting his stomach.

A small smirk formed on Uma's lips.

"Oh look! I'm Mal. Not even worthy of a full name," Harry began in a high pitch voice, making an exaggerated imitation of Mal's scowl and stance. Uma was unable to contain her giggles. "Look at me! I can make my eyes glow green. Soooo scary," he drawled, leaning against the wall across from the giggling girl.

"You're an idiot."

"Aye, that I am," the boy winked. "And you're better than Mal. One day, you'll probably even rule the island, especially with how bossy you are."

Uma grinned, not noticing as everything around her seemed to melt away like mist.

"Uma, wake-up, darling. We're almost there."

Lifting the brim of her hat from where it had slipped low on her head, Uma didn't flinch when she saw Harry's face so close to hers. She could feel his breath fanning out against her skin, smelling like the sour gummy candy she knew he had stuffed himself with ever since they got into the limo.

"Two words," she grumbled, voice still thick with sleep. "Personal space."

Harry laughed, though he leaned back, giving Uma a clear view of the sticky sugary mess that he and Gil obviously made while she had been napping.

"Oo! Uma! We saved you your favorite!" Gil proudly exclaimed from the limo's floor, holding up a barely touched jar of red fished shaped candy. She had had it once, when she was much younger, a lone red little fish gummy that some Auradon brat must have not noticed at the bottom of the bag before throwing it out. Reaching out for the jar, Uma took a handful, letting herself momentarily indulge. Gil grinned and Uma couldn't help but grin back herself. She turned to Harry who was stabbing some gummy bears a little too gleefully with his hook. She mentally sighed, remembering what she had been putting off since she decided they would be going to Auradon. She really didn't want to have this conversation.

"You're going to have to put that away, you know." the sea witch finally said.

Harry paused, eyes wide as he slowly, oh so slowly turned to face her. His expression looked like she had just told him he was no longer First Mate and a part of Uma wished she could just take what she said back. But she knew they wouldn't let him keep his most cherished possession. And she knew why he had to keep it. Growing up in a place where everything was stacked against you, the only way to get by - to keep any sense of sanity - was the goal of proving yourself better, meaner, more wicked than your parents. Harry needed a hook to do that. To prove that he was more than just some unwanted bastard son of washed up pirate who would always be disappointed in him and some nameless tavern-wench. And if anyone tried to physically take it from him, Uma knew he wouldn't hesitate to kill.

"Repeat that, lass."

Uma frowned, crossing her arms. "That's Captain. And your hook, you-"

"WHAT ABOUT ME HOOK!?" he snarled angrily, accusingly...hurt. His face was red and his entire body seemed to vibrate with repressed rage. She should be frightened...

She heard Gil whisper something to the limo driver when the man questioned what was all the noise about but she couldn't focus on that.

"Harry, listen to me!" she said forcefully, tugging him by the hook, not letting go, not breaking eye contact. "Those goody two-shoes will take it away if they see you with it. And I. Know. You. You will fight for it. You would fight tooth and nail and get your behind sent back to the Isle. Or worst! You told me I wouldn't have to look for a new first mate. Do you remember that? Did you lie to me?"

Harry didn't respond, looking away, body still shaking, still too tense. Uma could see his jaw clenching tightly and it made her so inexplicably angry. (At him. At herself. At his father and the stupid boy who started this whole damn hook business.)

Anyone else would have at least been wary but Uma wasn't anyone. She was Isle born and bred. The sea roared and crashed in her veins. The storms raged in her eyes. She growled,before tackling the boy onto the floor of the limo, Gil just barely getting out of the way.

That was the scene that the limo driver opened the door to.

"Um...am I interrupting something?" Ben asked peaking in.

Harry shouted "Yes!" the same time Uma shouted "No." Neither seemed embarrassed about their current positions.

Ben glanced at Gil who merely shrugged. "Harry wants to keep his hook but Uma says you won't let him keep it," the blonde said simply. "Also, it's good to see you again Ben!"

"Gil!" both captain and first mate hissed.

Ben was silent as he leaned further into the limo. "Well...we can't have students running around with weapons that could hurt either others or themselves." Harry growled, making a move to lunge at the young king but thankfully for Ben, Uma still sat securely on top of him. "But," Ben continued, "if it's really important to you, Harry, we can get Fairy Godmother to spell it so that you would still be able to carry it around but unable to hurt anyone with it. We do it with all the fencing swords for. Would that be a suitable compromise?"

Using her knees to keep his arms penned down and covering his mouth with her hands, Uma answered for her first mate: "Yes. Deal. You can add it to our arrangement."

Ben quirked a brow at her choice of words but kept his questions to himself for the time being. Suddenly feeling unsure, he cleared his throat. "Good. Well, everyone else is here waiting for-"

"Give us a minute. Gil. Out." Uma ordered and Ben had no other option but to follow it as Gil pushed him out before closing the door.

Removing her hands from his mouth, being met with no resistance as she pulled the hook out of Harry's hand, her hand gripping his and fingers intertwining with those of his hook wielding hand. She bent her head down low until she knew she was the only thing in his field of vision.

"What's. My. Name?" she said low and and slowly.

Harry closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep shuddering breath. She could see the thoughts spiral chaotically throughout his head. The sweat beading at his brow. She felt his pulse beat erratically under her. But his hook wielding hand shook in her hers as he fought for control over himself and that reassured her greatly. He was still present. He was still here with her.

"Uma," he whispered on a sigh that both sounded like a prayer and a desperate plea.

"And what am I?" she asked, squeezing his hand, her other hand combing slowly through his hair. Harry took another deep breath, almost leaning into the touch of her hand.

"Captain."

"And who are you?" Uma asked, relieved when his breathing seemed to even a bit as his muscles began to uncoil and relax a bit.

Blue eyes opened, framed with thick eyeliner, wary and heavy with something that again Uma didn't want to think of. (Not here. Not now. Can't get distracted.)

"Yours. Always yours," Harry whispered almost reverently, the thumb of his free hand drawing slow calming circles on the outside of her thigh. (For her? For him? She wasn't sure.)

"And I protect what's mine," she said with such conviction that it left no room for argument. "I know what your hook means to you, Harry, but I can't have you go pulling another Tick-Tock and trying to get rid of your hand when...you know. We had an arrangement. Do you remember that?"

Harry sighed, hand on her thigh beginning to tap a staccato like rhythm against her skin. His eyes still looked wary but they were focused again, that something else still there but better hidden and difficult to spot unless she was really looking and at the moment, she didn't want to see it. She knew this would be difficult for him but she also knew she was selfish and made him come to this place where things wouldn't be easy for him anyway. (Because that's what first mates did. Pledge to follow their captains to the ends of the earth.)

"Aye, Captain."

Uma nodded, withholding expressing her relief. "We're going to go outside now. You'll hand over your hook. We're going to get through whatever these Auradon idiots have in store for us and if you have to hold my hand all throughout it to keep yourself together enough, then so be it. Squeeze it. Break it if you must if that's what it takes to keep you by my side and not sent back to the Isle. But I swear to you, you'll get your hook back. Understand?"

Harry nodded and that was all Uma needed before she moved off of him and opened the limo's door, all the while still holding Harry's hand. She had to refrain from squinting as she got out, the sun much brighter in Auradon. When her vision cleared, she saw that Gil was talking excitedly with Ben about something or another, the young king either very good at pretending or actually interested in whatever the other boy was saying. Taking in their surroundings quickly, Uma noticed that the other Isle kids were nowhere in sight.

"Ben thought you would prefer it if the others got a head start."

Uma snapped her head over to where the daughter of the Evil Queen was standing next to the Fairy Godmother. At hearing Evie say his name, Ben turned towards Uma a bright smile on his face that left Uma confused as to whether Uma wanted to smile with him or punch him in the face. (Punch him in the face, definitely punch him in the face).

"I figured it would make things...less stressful," Ben clarified, giving a slight nod to the hook Harry held limply in his other hand.

"How kind of ye," Harry managed to drawled, looking anything but appreciative. If anything, Uma noticed he looked pale and tired in the sunlight. Nonetheless, he stood tall next to his Captain. Ben, Evie, and Fairy Godmother gave their joined hands brief momentary glances but didn't comment on them.

"Yes," Fairy Godmother began, her smile just a tad bit force at the sight of the curved piece of metal that Harry had brought out with him. "King Ben has informed me of what he discussed with you," she said holding out her hand. "If you give me your possession, I promise to have it back to you by your first class with me tomorrow morning."

From the corner of her eye, Uma watched as the muscle in her first mate's jaw twitched. Slowly, so slowly that she wondered if someone had slowed down time, Harry handed over his hook. Fairy Godmother quickly snatched it into her hands, giving a satisfied nod before saying her goodbyes and promising to return Harry's hook the next day, leaving the five teens to themselves.

"All right," Evie smiled softly, seemingly aware of the tense situation that Uma found herself in. "I know you all had a long ride so Ben and I will give you a quick tour before showing you to your dorms so you can rest. Classes start tomorrow for you." With that, she pulled a slightly startled Ben along, Gil following.

Uma glanced at Harry. "Just focus on me, Hook. Focus on holding my hand. Squeeze it until it breaks if you have to."

Harry let out a tired chuckle, body still holding a lot of tension. Though his hand in hers felt firm and warm and familiar. Steady, even. "Well, at least I get to hold hands with a goddess," he winked, kissing her knuckles.

Rolling her eyes as she tugged him along, Uma allowed herself to smile. If her idiot was joking, he would be okay.

Yay! Another chapter out and my wrist stopped hurting. (Apparently, not typing for extending times on a desk and just typing in really awkward positions can do that.)

Anyway, I feel like I always think this but this chapter was difficult to write. Originally I was planning to introduce properly all the new Isle kids but it got so long and didn't really add anything to the plot so I scrapped it. Melody at one point was also supposed to make a reappearance and that came out awkward. The dream sequence was supposed to be longer with more Harry backstory and...yeah everything just kept coming out really bad and ranting. I just really don't want to let any of you reading this down because you've all been really awesome and supportive.

Um, can't really think of anything else to say other than once again, thank you so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting, subscribing, and whatever else you can do. It seriously makes my days so much better.