Hi all, I'm back. I've been busy with writing FanFiction for other fandoms that I enjoy and with college now. I decided to look at my stories again to try and find some motivation to return to Descendants. Surprisingly I found it with this story that I haven't updated in over two years, but here we are. I welcome all of the old and new readers. Please review it is much appreciated. The OC Amy belongs to KagamiPINKAgreste, I hope it is still okay for me to use your character, and the OCs Everett and Chuck are mine. Everything else is Disney's. The words in italics are text messages. I hope you all enjoy this.

Life Will Get Better: Chapter 7

It was several weeks later and Mal was in her classroom. She was tidying some things before the students would arrive. After talking to her friends about Aaron, Mal finally felt strong enough to keep a photo of him on her desk, next to the one of Everett.

The sudden buzz of Mal's phone caught her attention. She looked at it and smiled. It was a text from Ben. That had changed as well. Ben had managed to get a hold of Mal's phone number, from who she wasn't sure but she had a few ideas. It was welcomed though, and the two have really started to build up their friendship.

Hey, how does lunch sound? It read.

That sounds wonderful :) She responded.

I'll bring some sandwiches and we can eat in your classroom.

Looking forward to it.

Just as Mal had sent her final text the students started to arrive. "Good morning, nice to see you all today." Mal welcomed before starting her lesson.

Around 11:00 Ben showed up with lunch. He knocked on the open door. "Uh, I have an order for Mal."

Mal looked over towards him. "Hi. This is such a good distraction from grading the artwork, it's the worst part. They are all beautiful in their own way."

Ben walked towards her desk. "That's because you see the good in everything."

Mal thought about that for a moment. "I suppose I do."

"One ham and cheese sandwich for you, one salami and cheese for me, and as a special surprise, strawberries." He placed each of the things on the desk.

"Oh, thank you!" Mal exclaimed. "You can wash them in that sink over there."

As they ate they talked about all sorts of things, it was a great time for them both. "Do you have Everett this weekend?" Ben asked.

"No, Chuck does." Mal answered. "Why?"

"I was thinking… How does a movie night sound?" Ben wondered.

"Wow, two dates in one week, Ben, that's a big step." Mal joked.

Ben knew that she was teasing him. "So?"

"I would love that." Mal replied.

Ben and Mal's relationship had really blossomed after the movie date that weekend. They have gone on many dates together, but were not an official couple, Mal wasn't ready for that.

One Friday afternoon, Mal arrived at Charming Castle to pick up Everett. She was in the large foyer area waiting for Everett to finish getting ready. Chuck walked into the room, seeing Mal there. "Well I'm glad to see that you've managed to finally make time for our son." He said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Mal inquired.

"Well it's no secret to the kingdom that you've been spending a lot of time with Ben, and our divorce isn't even final yet. I can only speculate about how this would affect Everett." Chuck acted as if he was in deep thought, resting his head in his palm.

Mal knew that Chuck's curiosity was fake and that he was just trying to get on her nerves. "It's not like he hasn't seen you with other women, even while we were still together, Chuck." She smirked at the shocked expression that crossed his face for a second. He didn't have a good response to that.

Once Everett got down to where his parents were waiting he wished his father goodbye and gave him a hug, then left with his mother. Mal glanced in the rearview mirror once the two were on the road. Everett was silent and staring out of the window. This was unlike him as he would usually be non stop talking with her. She wanted to figure out what was wrong with her little boy, and tried to, but he didn't seem to want to talk about it. She was reminded of what Chuck had said to her, and she was starting to worry that he was right.

Mal got Everett all settled once they got back to her place. He was silently playing with some toys in the living room when Mal decided to ask him what was so clearly wrong. "Rett, honey," she stared, gaining his attention. "What's bothering you?"

Everett answered with a question of his own. "Are you with the king?"

Mal hesitated for a moment. "Um, yes I am."

"No!" Everett exclaimed. "I don't like him and I don't like you!" He then got up and ran upstairs. Mal was in awe. Everett seemed to take that harder than she had thought. She followed him upstairs and into his room. Mal has known her son for five years now, she knows where his favorite hiding places were. So she wasn't surprised when she laid down on the floor, looking under the bed and found a pair of green eyes glistened with tears staring back at her.

"I'm sorry Mom. I didn't mean it." Everett apologized.

"I know you didn't sweetie, I'm not mad." Mal assured him. "Want to come out and talk about it?"

Mal sat up against the bed as Everett crawled out from underneath, sitting next to her. Mal put her arm around him and pulled him close. "Now, what is so bad about Ben?" She questioned.

"He's not Dad." Everett responded. Mal took a deep breath. She had to remember that now matter how much she despised Chuck sometimes, she was speaking with a five year old who loved and looked up to him. Mal figured that she would always continue to love a little. He did give her her sons, who, no offense to Amy or Ben or any of her other friends, were the best people in her life.

"I know that you still wish that Dad and I would get back together, but we just don't love each other anymore. I really like Ben." Mal explained. "And I promise that Ben will never replace Dad, he'll still be around, and no matter who I'm with, whether it's Ben or someone else, I won't love you any less."

Everett extended out his hand. "Pinky promise?"

Mal wrapped her finger around his. "Pinky promise. Rett, did Dad tell you about Ben and I?"

Everett shook his head vigorously. "No, I hear it from a lot of other people, but not Dad."

After their conversation Mal had gotten her energetic, talkative boy back, which she was grateful for. But, as always, Sunday afternoon rolled around and Chuck came to collect Everett.

Mal answered the door and let her ex in while Everett was still upstairs. "I wanted to thank you for not telling Everett about Ben and I." She said.

Chuck sighed. "Mal, I might strongly dislike you, but I'd never try to deliberately destroy my son's relationship with his mother." Everett came down the stairs before Mal had the chance to reply. "Hey Champ, ready to go?" Chuck inquired.

Everett nodded and gave his mom a hug. "I'll see you soon." She told him.

A few days later, Mal, Evie, Amy, and Lonnie were hanging out at Amy's apartment. "So, how is the new couple that is the return of Mal and Ben doing? Jane tells me that there are numerous entries in the visitor log to Auradon Prep from a certain king" Evie asked. The other two were clearly excited for the answer as well.

"Stop. You three are as bad as my students are." Mal said.

Evie placed her hand over her heart, pretending to be hurt. "Well, I think we're better than a bunch of teenagers."

"Come on Mal, everyone loves the newest power couple of Auradon." Lonnie added.

"Not everyone." Mal disagreed.

"Who? Charles?" Amy questioned, her anger growing a bit.

Mal chuckled. "No, not him, I could care less what he thought. No, it was Everett. He told me that he didn't like Ben or myself for that matter."

"Oh Mal, I'm sure he didn't mean it that way." Evie said.

"I know he didn't. It's just another change for him, and I'm not sure how much more he can take." Mal voiced.

"I think that Everett and Ben need to spend some time together, get to know each other." Amy suggested.

Mal mulled it over. "That doesn't seem like a terrible idea."

"Of course it isn't, Bookkeeper came up with it." Lonnie stated. This made the group break out into laughter.

Mal mentioned the idea to Ben on one of their many lunch dates. He all too happily agreed, proposing that they do a picnic lunch at the Enchanted Lake, just like old times, with the possibility of swimming included.

It was all set for the next Saturday that Mal had Everett. It didn't take much from her to convince the boy to go, especially since it was an extremely nice day out, perfect for swimming.

The three enjoyed the usual lunch of sandwiches and strawberries, then talked a bit after, though all Everett wanted to do was to finally jump into the lake. "Can we swim yet?" Everett asked. "It's been forever!"

Mal glanced at the time on her phone. "Fine, I guess it would be alright." She sat on the edge of the ruins as she took off Everett's t-shirt, he already had his swim trunks on, and put his arm floaties on. Then, without hesitation he leaped into the water, getting Mal all wet. She didn't understand where Everett's love for swimming came from. When she was younger she was deathly afraid of the mere idea of swimming, and still kind of was. Ben hopped in as well and the two played and splashed each other. Everett looked happier than he had been in a long time.

Eventually Mal was coaxed into getting into the water and when she was distracted, Ben and Everett snuck up behind her and splashed her, making them laugh and laugh. "That's very funny you two." Mal smiled.

Mal watched her son and boyfriend for a while more. Maybe this would work out just fine.