"I'm so happy you have the weekend off to spend together," Mal nuzzled into Ben's ski coat.

"This is a big tradition. One of the only times of the year I get to see my closest friends. And I'm so happy for you to meet everyone and to share this weekend with you." Ben squeezed Mal tight into him. "You ready?"

"I was born ready," Mal clicked into her snowboard and took off down the hill, "Race ya!"

Ben was shocked and called after her, "Do you even know how to snowboard?"

"Nope," She shouted at him. She was definitely wobbly on the board and it didn't feel good to have her feet locked in, but she was relying on muscle memory. Mal may not know how to snowboard but she did do her fair share of skateboarding and garbage sledding on the Isle. It was like the same thing, right?

Ben wizzed past her which only motivated her more as they raced down the hill. She squatted her center of gravity lower to pick up speed. Mal was gaining on him as they neared the end of the hill. Problem was she didn't know how to stop. So she tried to slide sideways and it did slow her down but also knocked her to the ground as she barreled into Ben. They both hit the snow. Ben clicked them out of their boots a little bruised and concerned, "Are you okay?"

Mal just started laughing, "That was awesome! Let's do it again."

Ben laughed and helped her up, "Alright speedy why don't we slow down next time."

"Benny you never tell trailblazing woman to slow down!"

Ben turned and beamed. "Aziz!" He grappled him into a hug.

Mal didn't think she'd ever seen Ben seem so close with anyone. Ben kept kind of a distance from most of the friends he had at Auradon.

"Mal this is Aziz," Ben introduced.

"I have heard a lot about you Lady Mal. Excited to get to know you. Thanks for making our Benny a little more interesting," Aziz shook her hand. He was a little flirt she could tell. Mal felt he seemed like a good balance to Ben. She could see why he would be closer to someone like him versus Chad. It had always seemed like Chad was a friendship he was kind of forced into and this they didn't seem that close. They were very different in all the wrong ways. Aziz and Ben seemed different in all the right ways.

Mal couldn't be happier racing down the slopes with her best friends. Evie, Jay, and Carlos being here definitely made her feel like they were crashing the young royals' annual party rather than the outcast. Mal was definitely excited to get to know Ben's friends from all around the kingdoms. But having her friends here to share this with made her feel not so alone. She watched Doug and Evie skiing the bunny slope and holding hands. Jay was clearly making friends with Azis as they were doing stupid tricks together.

"Mal you have to try this!" Carlos excitedly called her and Ben over to the picnic area that was right outside the lodge.

Carlos was sitting with Dude and Jane drinking a huge cup of some sort of brown liquid. "It's chocolate but liquidy and warm! You gotta try it!" Carlos pushed the cup towards her.

"No offense but I think I'll get my own. I just saw Dude licking it." Mal laughed, getting up.

"None taken," Dude piped up.

Ben got up ahead of Mal, "Don't worry Mal I'll get some for us."

Mal sat back down and Carlos was grinning at her, "Soooo i hate to say I told you so but... I TOLD YOU SO! I told you you just needed to give Ben a chance. Look how much happier you guys are now."

Mal laughed, "Fine you stinker you win this time."

It seemed like everyone was taking a break for lunch. Of course Audrey, Chad, Ruby, and Anxelin stayed far away from everyone else.

Aziz was excited to meet everyone, chattering away. He didn't seem at all bothered most of the other royals had segregated themselves.

Ruby jumped up from her table excitedly and barreled into Melody who had just arrived. Melody said hi to everyone over there but she didn't sit with them. Instead her and Ruby decided to cross the big divide and made their way over to the other table.

Everyone got up to greet her and Ben introduced who she didn't know. She bear hugged Aziz, apparently they were close. Mal was so nervous watching her greet everyone. Mal's last experience with Melody she had made an absolute fool of herself and was plagued with jealousy. But when it was Mal's turn to say hi Melody surprised her. Melody bear hugged her as well. "You're such a badass! I heard about what happened at your cotillion and I am so bummed I wasn't there to see it! Of course I knew you were awesome before that but that was amazing."

Mal was a little overwhelmed and she could see Ben smiling behind Melody.

"Mind if we join you guys?" Ruby asked.

"Of course come sit!" Evie was so excited. She loved making new friends.

"Sorry I missed the skiing. I'm not always the best on feet. But I will 100% be hitting the hot springs later." Melody gushed.

Anxelin suddenly stood up from her table and stormed off. It seemed to be a habit of hers. "Oh no," Ruby gasped and got up to run after her.

"Drama," Jane muttered under her breath.

Mal wasn't feeling at all self conscious wearing her swimsuit anymore as they walked over to the hot springs later that night. In fact she was excited to tease Ben and if they were lucky maybe sneak in some alone time later. Appearances needed to be kept up but she was an expert at sneaky and Ben seemed more and more game to walk on the wild side with her.

Mal saw Ben very discretely checking her out as they walked up. He very innocently held her hand and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. But what he whispered when he was leaned in close was far from innocent, "You look really sexy."

Everyone was relaxing on the edges which clearly wasn't sitting right with Jay. "Snore fest! Come on guys let's chicken."

Mal jumped up from Ben's side excitedly. Evie and Carlos rushes to the center of the springs with her. But everyone else just stayed put confused.

"What's chicken?" Lonnie asked.

Jay seemed offended, "You guys seriously don't play chicken here? It's one of the nicer games we play on the isle."

"Like battle royal in the water!" Carlos exclaimed.

"Regular teams," Evie asked.

"You know it!" Mal ducked down so Carlos could climb into her shoulders. And Jay did the same for Evie.

Everybody else looked on in confusion. Audrey and her gang looked on in horror.

"3," Mal shouted.

"2," Jay challenged.

"1," Evie screamed.

They all shouted "Go" together and Evie and Carlos atop Mal and Jay grabbed each other's arms and started duking it out. Each was trying to push the other of their base's shoulders.

"Well this just isn't fair at all, Evie has the high ground," Aziz shouted from the sidelines. Now that they understood the game a couple of the royals were starting to let loose and cheer them on.

Carlos was bending back like he was about to fall off and Mal gripped Carlos's legs tighter. Just when he was about to fall Mal swiftly moved to the side and Jay and Evie went toppling down.

"Wahoo!" Carlos and Mal shouted in victory as they got down from their fighting stance.

"What was that Aziz?" Mal smirked playfully at him.

"Okay I am so going next. Lonnie want to play?" Axis extended his hand out to her. She pushed forward in the water to join him.

Ben came up behind Mal, "How did you play this back home if you didn't know how to swim?"

"We uh didn't play this in the water," Mal gritted her teeth awkwardly.

Ben could tell now when a memory bothered her and when it didn't. It was clear to him Mal just was worried about his reaction.

Ben moved in front of Mal and reached his arms back so she could climb on, "Let's show them how it's done."

The other royals were really excited now that Ben was participating.

Ben gripped Mal's thighs midway up for stability. But it was high enough up to ignite some fire in Mal. She was also hyper aware of how close his head was to her privates. Mal shook her head focusing on Lonnie and knocking her off. Ben was a pretty stable base. But she supposed, while he was a slim guy, all those years of sports had built him some pretty decent muscles.

"This is barbaric. I can't believe you're really participating in this Ben." Audrey scoffed and got out of the springs to go to bed. She's clearly had enough of their shenanigans.

Aziz rolled his eyes and waved her off. "Let's rumble."

Mal laughed and dove for Lonnie trying to knock her off balance. But her and Aziz were moving pretty fluidly instead of bunkering down. An interesting tactic. Mal and Ben were staying pretty grounded despite Lonnie's attempts. They seemed at a standstill.

"Ben if you grip her thighs any tighter you're going to bruise her," Aziz teased. That was all it took. Ben was embarrassed and thrown off and he loosened his grip. That's when Lonnie dove and threw Mal off of Ben.

Mal resurfaced and started laughing. "We got a couple of champions right here."

Lonnie and Aziz actually managed to defeat every other pair that wanted to play. They were making quite the team. When everyone was exhausted they broke off to relax.

Mal was cuddled up with Ben talking to Aziz when Melody waved her over to where her and Evie were. Mal pecked Ben on the lips before swimming off.

Ben was staring after Mal but Aziz was studying his friend. When Ben noticed he asked, "What?"

"You tell me what. This is serious."

Aziz commented.

Ben tried to laugh it off, "What do you mean?"

"I mean you are in deep with this girl. It's like a whole new you. In a good way. I don't think I've ever seen you so happy or carefree."

"I really love her," Ben stared off at Mal laughing with Melody and Evie. It made his heart burst to see her so happy and free.

"I'm happy for you. She's a lot of fun and seems like she really loves you too."

Ben smirked, "Yeah she is."

Aziz splashes his friend out of his staring. "You seem pretty familiar."

Ben turned away from Mal and back to his friend confused, "What're you talking about?"

"I mean you would have never held Audrey's thighs like that game or no game." Aziz smirked.

"She never would have let me. You knew her. Always going on about appearances. We were never affectionate."

"And you never wanted to touch her like that. You're avoiding the conversation."

Ben sighed, "I'm not avoiding anything. You're fishing and it's personal."

"So there is something to avoid, I knew it. You guys are way too casual and comfortable touching each other."

"Aziz," Ben warned.

"No! I'm your best friend. We barely get to see each other you have no one to talk to about this. I'm happy for you. You deserve all this. But if you think she isn't turning around and telling her blue haired friend everything you are mistaken. I would never breathe a word of this to anyone and I'm not trying to pry for details. But I know how difficult it is to try to navigate all this alone."

Ben raised his eyebrow at him, "You do?"

"Yeah. Obviously you know I've been with a couple girls but when I was first figuring it all out last year I couldn't talk to anyone and it sucked. You don't have to say anything. But I'm happy for you and I want you to know anything you tell me goes to the grave. I just want to be there for you."

"I appreciate that and maybe one day I will. But right now I just want to figure everything out just me and Mal." Ben switched gears, "Don't think I didn't I didn't notice you flirting extra hard with Lonnie. What's up with that mister player?"

Aziz smirked clearly amused, "I am not a player. I don't play girls. I just haven't met anyone special yet. We aren't all as lucky as you Benny. As for Lonnie I never really got to know her that well. She doesn't usually come to royal events and she seems pretty cool. So I guess we'll see."

As the night wore on more and more people tucked in for bed. Melody and Evie were really hitting it off so they were still up. Aziz was chatting with Jay and Mal and Ben were cuddled up on their own on the other end of the springs.

"I've never seen Ben so passionate. It's kind of weird to imagine he has that side to him after watching him always be so dependable and zippered up all the time." Melody mused to Evie.

"He's still that same guy," Evie counters.

"Oh no I know that. I don't mean he's changed. I just mean it seems like he's finally been able to open up parts of himself he had hidden away. Don't get me wrong I'm so happy for him." Melody rushed out.

Ben and Mal are in their own little world. Which is okay because the only people left are their closest friends.

Mal's sitting on Ben's lap in the water, caressing his face. She loves feeling Ben holding her thigh and waist to pull her close to him.

"I couldn't be happier to see everyone getting along. This is my dream for everyone of the Isle and Auradon one day," Ben motioned to their friends.

Mal reared up a bit and leaned forward to kiss him passionately. She felt his grip on her thigh tighten and she sighed into their kiss.

"Do I get to have you to myself tonight or do I have to steal you," Mal challenged wiggling her butt over his crotch.

Ben held her tighter to keep her in place, knowing full well their friends technically could still see them and they couldn't be overt. "I think that can be arranged. And why exactly do you want me all to yourself," Ben teased her nipping her lip quickly.

Mal gasped quietly at his surprised attack. "You know well and good why Benjamin."

Ben chuckled, "But I want to hear you say it."

"Because I want to be intimate with you. Because I want to feel your skin against mine and be with you all night and wake up in your arms."

Ben surged forward to kiss her again, pouring all his emotion into it. "Okay we have to stop. We can't get too carried away in front of all of them. We have to be discrete. Let's go over and hang out with them for a bit a cool off?"

Mal gave Ben one last kiss, "Okay. I'll race ya!"

She jumped up and took off.