Chapter Twenty

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek myths.

Smh Gods it's hard to believe we're now on chapter twenty! You know now we only have fifty chapters to go before the end? Which now that I type that, it doesn't seem like that small a number but still!

Katt Kiki: Yep!

danifan3000: I mean, in the Disney version Snow was 14 and her prince was 31 so that age gap is still rather large. I have nothing against an age gap (my parents have five years on each other) but that's a little big for my liking.

AmethystDragon14: Yay! Of course Belle won! I mean I've already made her life miserable (no husband and her kids have to go to the Isle every six months), I figured it'd be better to not take another thing from her. And yeah, Cogsworth needs a raise! Also the reason why you're not surprised is because you know both Aurora and Leah!

OceanBlueSeaEyes: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! :D

twilightgirl87: Apparently the mail from the Isle is via the goblins from what the books say. I don't really understand it myself.

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

It's often said that time moves fastest when one dreads having to do something and that was certainly the case for Belle as she stood in front of the portal once more. However this time, instead of merely having a conversation with her husband, she was having to say goodbye to her son.

"Okay, now you be good for your father…understand?" Belle asked as she bent down to fix the drawstrings on Ben's hoodie. He had originally been dressed in a blue dress shirt and slacks but then Mal had walked in to his room; the young purple haired girl having finally been released from the confines of her wheelchair and boot and was taking advantage of her new mobility by walking everywhere.

Anyway, when Mal had seen the blue dress shirt and slacks, she shook her head and began rifling through Ben's closet for something that she deemed 'Isle worthy'. Belle could still remember the look on Lady Persephone's face when she walked in and asked Mal what on Earth she was doing.

"If Benny here is going to be under my protection while we're on the Isle, then he's going to look the part," Mal said, still rifling through Ben's closet.

"I…I thought I looked okay," Ben said, tilting his head slightly as he looked over at his mom and Lady Persephone.

"Mal, you can't just go rifling through other people's closets," Persephone called to her ward and step-daughter who was still in the process of digging around in Ben's closet, to find any article of clothing that would satisfy her.

"Benny is going to be a sitting duck wearing that! If he ever wants to go outside or walk around the Isle, he can't look like he's about to go to Emir or Akiho's!" Mal called back before coming out with a blue hoodie, a pair of jeans that Belle swore she didn't know Ben had, and a yellow shirt that looked almost exactly like the same shade as dijon mustard. "Here we go. It's not exact but at least he won't look like he's about to attend a tea party at Blueberry's."

"Who…?"

"It's what she calls Evil Queen's daughter," Ben told his mom before biting his lip. "Shouldn't…shouldn't I look my best though? Good first impression for the Isle? Papa says—."

"A good first impression for the Isle is a good bad impression here," Mal said as she tossed the clothes toward Ben. "And trust me, if you want Uma and Harry to warm up to you at all, you're going to need a good Isle impression. Not a good Boreadon impression."

Persephone sighed. "I can't argue against the fact that she has a point," she said. "Though I might have been more tactful."

Mal shrugged. "Who has time for tact?"

Ben bit his lip once more. He wanted to make a good impression with Mal's friends…I mean allies but at the same time, what he was wearing was what he always wore if he needed to make a good impression or had to go to a royal event.

"Mal, can I make a suggestion?" Persephone said, noticing Ben's hesitation. "How about he just have the hoodie and we can pack that shirt and jeans for him to wear day to day around the Isle?"

Mal paused and looked at the sweatshirt, then at Ben, and then at Persephone before nodding. "Okay. That makes sense."

"Thank Gods," Belle sighed. She didn't want to worry Adam by not showing up at the portal on time.

"Maman?"

"Hmm? Yes Ben?" Belle asked as Ben's voice broke her out of her thoughts.

Ben gave his mother a small smile. "You stopped talking. Are you okay?"

"Oh! Yes, I'm just fine Ben," Belle said. "I just…I realized how much I'm going to miss you is all."

"I'll miss you too Maman," Ben said and reached over to give her a big hug. "I made Chip promise he'd be around all the time to make sure you smiled. You always said you loved his antics."

"…Were you listening in the secret passage again?"

"No…"

Belle chuckled and brushed Ben's hair out of his eyes. "Since you were more than likely practicing for the Isle, I'll ignore the eavesdropping but in the future, adult conversations don't need little ears listening in. Okay?"

"Yes Maman."

"That's my sweet boy," Belle said and gently kissed the top of Ben's head. Please don't let the Isle take the light from my son. Please don't turn him jaded before he needs to be, she thought.

She knew he would try to remain her sweet boy, she knew of the promise Chip had asked Ben to make. But Belle also knew that while Ben was on the Isle, it would be less of a chance to be sweet and more of a need for survival.

Gaston was on the Isle after all, and while she trusted Lord Hades and Lady Persephone to protect her son, on top of trusting Adam with all her heart when it came to protecting Ben, there was still the worry that gnawed at her. Belle knew Gaston, she knew that he wouldn't take the fact that she'd had a son with another man lying down.

Never mind the fact that she had never once expressed any interest in him or wanting children with him. Nope, it was only what Gaston wanted.

"Maman?" Ben said softly.

"Hmm…?"

"Are you okay? You got quiet again."

Belle sighed. "Yeah, maman's okay Ben. She was just…just thinking about someone she knows on the Isle is all."

"Papa?"

"No, not your father," Belle said. "This person…well you know how papa and I always tell you that when someone says they don't want to play anymore that you should listen because they said no?"

"Uh huh," Ben said, nodding his head. "You always say that no is a complete sentence and that other kids don't need a reason to not want to play but they should be polite about it."

Belle couldn't help but smile slightly, happy her son had retained her words. "Well…this person Maman knows on the Isle never had those lessons. So he always thought he was entitled to the best of everything because of how handsome he was and how good of a hunter he was."

"He doesn't sound like a nice person, maman."

"He wasn't, but unfortunately he also liked being around me and thought me his…his special friend if you will. And this person would also get jealous of people taking what he thought was his. So I want you to promise me something Ben. Promise me you'll be careful around this person."

Ben nodded. He knew his maman hadn't told him who it was she was talking about but Lady Steph and Mal both seemed to have some idea, judging by the looks on their faces. And if he was going to be around Mal a lot, chances were he'd grow to know who his maman was talking about too!

"We should get going," Persephone said softly. She didn't want to interrupt the moment Belle was having with her son but at the same time Persephone knew that Hades was anxiously waiting for them. Not to mention that Mal was probably looking forward to seeing Uma and Harry again. If it wasn't for the VK nature to act cool and stoic at all times, Persephone knew Mal would likely be bouncing up and down as if she had springs for legs.

"Oh…right," Belle said softly and gently kissed the top of Ben's head. "I'll see you soon okay? Lady Persephone has made it so I'm able to call you on the portal when she's on the Isle with you."

Honestly, that had been something that Belle hadn't expected but greatly appreciated. Persephone had talked with Lord Zeus about making it so that the portal could be activated by someone other than herself in order to talk through it. At first, Belle had been told that Zeus was rather adverse with tampering with the portal out of a belief that it might spark it to remain open constantly.

However, much to Belle's surprise, it had apparently been Lady Demeter who had convinced Zeus into making the update to the portal. Now, if Belle ever needed to talk to her husband or son, she could press a button and activate the talk function.

"Yes maman," Ben nodded. "So…so I'll be able to talk to you whenever I want?"

"Not whenever," Belle said with a small sigh. "Maman will have to work hard to…to fix some of her's and your father's mistakes. But I'll try to come and talk as often as I can and if I can't, I'll make sure Chip comes in my stead. Does that sound good?"

"Yes maman!" Ben said, nodding his head vigorously as if he was a bobblehead. Belle couldn't help but chuckle and pushed some of the hair out of his eyes.

Mal rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to tap her foot. "I thought we needed to go?"

Oh don't get her wrong, she was surprisingly in no hurry to go back to the Isle. Not after the taste of Auradon she'd gotten. But there was only so much lovey dovey-ness a girl could take before she got sick of it. She was going to have her work cut out for her protecting Benny on the Isle but at least she could count on Uma and Harry to help her out.

Though if Ben continued to act like he did in Auradon, Mal was pretty sure the only thing that would happen would be Uma and Harry would be very annoyed with him. And with her for that matter for making them associate with him. In all honesty, he was more Boreadony than Blueberry and that was saying something!

…Okay maybe that wasn't really saying something since Ben was from Boreadon but you know what she meant!

"Right, right," Persephone nodded. "Queen Belle, thank you so much for your hospitality."

"It was my pleasure Lady Persephone and I'll make sure that paperwork is treated with the utmost priority," Belle promised. One of the first things she'd done after getting re-elected as Queen was begin the process on Lady Persephone's application to adopt Mal. For right now it was still in a pending status but Mal would be able to stay with Lord Hades and Lady Persephone rather than have to return to Maleficent's 'care'.

The last thing Belle wanted was for Mal to potentially be injured again the way she had been when she arrived in Auradon.

The process of abolishing the election of the High King or Queen of Auradon was taking much longer, hence why Belle decided to make the adoption a priority. Besides, Belle knew she had another five years before the next election so at least there was plenty of time before there was a need to worry. Though she did make sure to keep it in the back of her mind.

Ben smiled sadly as his mom gave him one last hug before he followed Mal through the portal. Though any sadness he felt at leaving his mother quickly vanished as he saw his father in front of him for the first time in what felt like forever.

"Papa!" Ben exclaimed and rushed over to Beast, giving him one of the biggest hugs he could.

Beast smiled and held his son close to him, though that wasn't a particularly difficult task as Ben was clinging to him as if he was made of glue. "I missed you too Ben," he said softly.

Meanwhile, Mal was busy chatting with Uma and Harry though when they had arrived, no one was quite sure. Though, considering they had hung around the Underworld quite a bit while Mal was in Auradon, maybe it shouldn't be so surprising that they were there.

"You look tan, Mali," Uma said with a small chuckle.

Mal made a face and shook her head. "I'm not. I'm just as pale as Harry is. Besides, every time we went somewhere, Lady Steph had to slather me with this cream that smelled funny. Prevented burns she said."

"Trust me Mal, the fact that you never once got a sunburn while we were in Auradon is thanks to that sunscreen," Persephone told her from where she was standing with Hades.

Mal shrugged. "If you say so Lady Steph. I still maintain it was unnecessary."

"Of course you do," Persephone chuckled.

"Good to have you back Mali," Harry said, wrapping his arm over her shoulders. "The Isle wasn't the same without you."

"Did Maleficent notice I was gone?" Mal asked.

"Surprisingly no," Uma said, shaking her head. "Though with how the dragon is, maybe it's not that surprising. Blueberry noticed though. She actually said she hoped you were alright wherever you are."

"That was nice of her," Ben said and Uma and Harry stopped to look at him.

Mal sighed. "Right, worry about Blueberry later. Uma, Harry, this is Benny. You met him before remember? Through the portal?"

"Ah. Right," Uma said, crossing her arms over her chest and looked right at Ben. If Ben was honest with himself, he almost felt like he was being judged. Then again, he likely was if this was going to be like the first time he met Mal.

I…I want to make a good impression…but if I make a bad impression then I can stay with papa, Ben thought as the idea popped into his head. If I stay with papa, then he…he can't leave again. I know Maman said that no one can leave the Isle but…what if they take him someplace worse on the Isle?

"Gee I didn't think we were that scary," he heard Uma scoff. "I think Cruella's kid talks more than Beastie Jr. here does."

Hades sighed but knew he had to say something, if only to make sure the kid who'd be under his roof felt okay. "Uma, lay off him."

Uma sighed but nodded. "Yes Uncle Hades."

"Good," Hades nodded. "Why don't you three show Benny here around the Underworld while I catch up with Persephone?"

He knew the kids weren't happy about it, well except for maybe Beastie Jr, and he knew that really all he wanted was to spend time with his wife and his daughter. But Hades also knew politics. He knew the importance of staying informed.

Plus he could tell just by looking at Mal that she wanted to go walk somewhere. Not stay in the room with all the boring adults.

"That's a good idea," Persephone nodded before anyone could object. "Why don't you three go show Prince Ben his room?"

"…He's staying here?" Mal asked.

"Where else would you propose I house someone under my protection?" Hades asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked over at her. "Go on, help the sunspot unpack and then I'll make dinner."

"Ooh this'll be good, Mal you haven't had Uncle Hades' dinner before!" Uma said, lightly pulling on Mal's arm as she, Mal, and Harry left Ben in the dust; the Prince only leaving his father's side after a promise that he'd be there when Ben came back out for dinner.

"This'll be interesting," Hades said as soon as Ben was out of earshot. "I thought you had said that Mal was giving the sunspot 'Isle' lessons, Steph?"

"She was," Persephone nodded. "In fact they were trading lessons from what I understand. Mal was teaching Prince Ben everything to do with the Isle and Prince Ben was teaching Mal French."

"…Why French?"

"I'm not entirely sure but I think Mal had mentioned it coming in handy when they got back to the Isle."

Hades shook his head before gently kissing the top of Persephone's. "I'm so glad you're home," he whispered. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Persephone told him. "But…maybe let's not rub in the fact that we can do this and Beast can't?"

Beast shook his head. "No, no. It wouldn't be fair for you to-."

"Beast, I'm not going to rub my relationship in your face when you can't do the same with your wife," Persephone said and went to sit down on the couch. "Hades don't even think about glaring at him."

Hades sighed but followed his wife to the couch to sit down, Beast picking a nearby chair and sitting in it.

"…How's Belle?" Beast asked after a long stretch of silence.

"Didn't you just see her?" Hades muttered.

Persephone shot him a look before looking over at Beast. "She's good. A lot of stress has been removed since she won the election."

"That's good," Beast said with a small smile before sighing. "She doesn't deserve that stress."

None of them do, Beast thought as he glanced toward the hall Ben had walked down. I promise you Ben, I'll find a way to make this up to you, to your mother, and to your sister. You have my word on that.

"Beast…since Ben's here, you can have the day off tomorrow," Hades said.

"Are…are you sure Hades?" Beast asked, more than slightly stunned as Persephone stared at her husband in loving surprise.

Hades shrugged. "I'm not about to keep a sunspot from his father. Unless that father's Zeus but we all know that."

"Hades…" Persephone said, gently admonishing her husband even though they both knew that the only way Hades had kept Hercules from Zeus had been by turning him mortal. After all, Zeus could have easily talked to Hercules before Hercules traveled to Zeus' temple.

Hell, Zeus had gone down to Earth to procreate more often than he had to visit his son!

"…I think I should see why it's so quiet down there," Beast said after a moment, the awkward silence feeling a bit overbearing for his liking.

"Good idea," Hades nodded and Beast got up to head over to Ben's room.

"Hades…you do know that we likely wouldn't hear the kids in Prince Ben's room anyway?" Persephone asked once Beast was out of earshot.

Hades shrugged before gently pulling Persephone onto his lap. "Meant we got Beastie out of the room and I got some time with you by myself," he told her.

Persephone shook her head in fond exasperation before smiling as Hades kissed her cheek. She wasn't going to lie…even with the added stress, it was good to be home.