A/N: Hi guys. I know that this has been a long time coming. I recently lost someone, and so for a time it was just to difficult for me to write anything like this. As for the story, we finally get all of the original four together! Woo! What is coming?

Disclaimer: Descendants is property of Disney Channel. I make no claim to own the characters, and have only written this only with love for Descendants and its characters. Thank you.

It was 2:50, and the villains' kids were all gathered in Jay and Carlos' room with Doug. They were all nervous to some extent of why Ben wanted to talk to them. He hadn't asked to talk with the four of them specifically, since… ever. It wouldn't be so strange that Ben wanted to hang out with them, Doug, Lonnie, and Jane, since they mostly hung together around school, but no one had heard anything about Jane coming, since she was supposed to be off with her mother regarding the Radcliffe's Dalmatian Plantation taking in shelter dogs. Doug had come to find Jay, Carlos, and Mal with Evie, and she said he was staying, and that Ben had mentioned him and Lonnie meeting with them here when had found them leaving the cafeteria together. Jay worried that it might have something to do with his conversation this morning with Lonnie, but he didn't want to say anything.

"Are you sure that Ben wants all of us here?" Carlos asked. Evie nodded.

"He said he wanted to talk to us 'as a group'," she said for the hundredth time. Evie was standing next to the door, and she leaned back against Doug, who hadn't left his girlfriend's side since picking her up for lunch. Mal and Carlos looked between Evie and Jay, since they had actually talked to Ben, but either they didn't know any more information, or they weren't telling. Mal was especially concerned. Ben was her boyfriend, but she heard about this meeting from Evie, only getting a text from Ben to make sure that she would be here.

"And nobody knows why we need to 'talk'?" Mal gave both of her friends a glare, and they both looked away uncomfortably. Yup. They're holding out, and definitely not telling, she thought. Mal paced the room anxiously, just waiting for a knock on the door.

"Maybe Ben wants to talk to us about the other kids he's bringing from the Isle," Carlos said.

Mal shook her head, but then looked at Evie who was definitely worried. Maybe Carlos was right. But then why would Ben need all of them here? And why would Lonnie be coming? Her eyes widened as she realized one reason Lonnie could be coming. Surely he didn't want to talk about the events leading to Cotillion right? Maybe she was paranoid, but she was sure she heard her boyfriend on the other side of the door. Mal released a huff that sounded more like a growl as she went to the door. The others gave her confused and worried looks as she opened the door, revealing Ben and Lonnie, who smiled sheepishly. Mal tried to put a smile on her face, for Ben's sake. Besides, it was just Ben, the boy who loved her and would never want to hurt her. This couldn't be too bad. She gestured for them to come in, and Ben took her hand looked around the room.

"Oh, you're all here. Okay…" Ben had spent all afternoon thinking about it, and he still wasn't sure how to begin the conversation. He could feel the tension radiating around the room, and he sat down on the floor, pulling his girlfriend with him. Maybe they wouldn't feel so intimidated if he was sitting. Mal had sat down next to him, and nodded at Jay, Carlos, and Evie. They joined them on the floor, Evie practically sitting in Doug's lap. Doug's arms were wrapped around his girlfriend, and Ben was surprised. He didn't think he'd ever seen Doug this protective. There must have been a lot that Doug didn't tell him, especially since he could count the times that he'd seen Evie nervous like this on one hand. She must know what they were going to talk about. Maybe they all did. Ben turned to see Lonnie on the floor next to Jay, her hand in his. Well, he thought. It's now or never.

"So I just wanted to make sure that you are all okay." He paused. No Ben, be clearer, he thought to himself. "If you ever want, or need, to talk about anything, you can talk to me. Or Doug or Lonnie," he added. Mal and Carlos stared at him wearily, while Jay looked at the floor, and Evie had her eyes squeezed shut. "I umm…" Oh let's just get it over with. "I know that your parents hurt you." Carlos froze, and Ben felt Mal's hand went hard like stone. She pulled it out of his own and stood up, glaring at Evie and Jay.

"Did you two know about this?" She yelled. Neither of them would look her in the eye. They did! She seethed, and her voice went dangerously low as she looked at Ben. "How?" Ben opened his mouth to respond, but Jay beat him to it, knowing that she probably thought that Ben knew what her mother did. Jay had to stop this before she got dangerous.

"Lonnie saw some of my scars. I didn't tell her anything about you guys." He stood up, and went to go comfort his sister, but she wouldn't let him near her. "Mal, I didn't tell him. I wouldn't tell him without asking you first. I wouldn't tell anybody. You know that." Mal's felt her fury starting to recede. She looked at Evie before it dissipated.

"And you?" Evie stared at the floor. Mal could feel how much she was hurting. It made her regret the tone that she was using.

"Doug's been helping me keep it together for a while now." She looked up at Mal, and quickly added, "But I haven't told him anything about you or your mom." She glanced at Carlos, and her blood went cold. "Carlos!" Everyone turned to look at the boy who seemed to be frozen. Evie pulled herself up, and she, Jay, and Mal all rushed over to his side as he started shaking. Mal's anger turned to fear.

"Carlos," she said, "It's okay. We're here. You're in Auradon." She snapped in front of his face, to get his attention, but he was unresponsive.

"Buddy," Jay tried, "she's gone, she can't get you. We'll protect you." Evie knelt in front of him, and turned to Jay.

"What do you usually do?" she asked.

"Usually?" Ben echoed in shock. Jay raised a hand to his forehead.

"I talk to him like I just did, but Dude's usually here." Evie groaned internally. Dude was with Jane today.

"Get his pillow." She hugged Carlos as tight as she could, whispering in his ear. "It's okay. It's Evie. Remember? Your mother's gone, it's just a dream. We're in Auradon now, remember? We're safe. Remember Dude? And Jane?" He stopped shaking, and Ben watched in confusion as Jay handed Evie Carlos' pillow. "Look at this, Carlos. It's your pillow." Mal stepped back, and Evie held Carlos' wrist, rubbing his arm over the pillow a couple of times. "You have a pillow now." Carlos blinked a few times and looked up at his friends.

"Hey, guys." He looked around in confusion. "Where's Dude?"

"Where's Dude?" Mal fumed. "You scared us half to death, and you ask 'where's Dude?'!" Evie sent her an angry glare, but Carlos grinned.

"Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry for," Evie quickly replied. Doug was the next to get his bearings after the unexpected episode.

"Do you want to see Dude? I can call Jane. She'd be happy to see you." Carlos glanced at his friends before nodding. Doug looked at Evie carefully.

"I'm gonna call Jane, but I'll be right outside the door."

"Doug," Mal interjected. "Don't mention what happened." Doug nodded, and carefully closed the door behind him.

A/N: In all honesty, I was about as surprised at this chapter as I'm sure you are. More is coming, but I wanted to at least get this out. Coming up we will see more direct interaction between Ben and Mal, Jay and Lonnie, and even that event with Jane and Carlos that I mentioned earlier.

Thank you all for reading and for your patience.