Hiya Descendants,

I'm getting this out a little earlier than normal, hope no one minds. :)

Don't forget to leave us a comment at the end of the chapter, it means the world to us!

Lots of love,

-Dark-

She didn't exactly distrust Roy.

But she wasn't thrilled with entrusting Carlos to him either.

She puffs out her cheeks before she blows out air and bounces the end of her pencil against her sketchbook.

But this was so unlike Carlos. To leave in the middle of the day. Let alone leave in the middle of the day to drive to the other side of Auradon.

He was never this irresponsible.

So, what the fuck had happened?

She chews on her cheek as she glances at her phone again.

Nothing.

She sighs before she looks up to watch Evie fretting over Carlos's tuxedo, relieved that the other girl had finally finished her dress.

"All anyone has to do is say road trip and Roy's already halfway to his car." Doug rolls his eyes as he holds out the pincushion for Evie, "Honestly, this seems more like Roy's kind of timing."

Evie pouts, "Well, it certainly doesn't sound like C. Or feel like him."

"Why London?" She asks as she looks back to her phone, the head of her eraser tapping against her sketchbook faster.

She was so having a long talk with their pup after this stunt.

"Carlos wouldn't want to do something random for no reason." Doug looks between her and Evie, "I know I don't know him as well as you all do, but-" He shrugs.

"No, you're right. He doesn't do random. So he has a reason. It's just not like him to leave us in the dark like this." Evie pouts.

Doug bites his lip, "I bet you a bolt of fabric he was just asking Roy if he would be willing to drive him, and Roy took it as a 'do it right now' thing."

"That-" Evie slowly nods, "That kind of sounds right. Carlos has a hard time saying no."

"Especially when he's the one asking for the favor." She hangs her head back before she glances out the window.

"And like I said, Roy is down for any excuse to skip class. Especially one that involves road trips."

"And helping a friend," Evie adds absently. "And Carlos is his One oh One so it makes sense he would rush to oblige"

"True."

"Fine, it might not be Carlos's fault that he just up and bailed, but that doesn't explain his lack of telling us what the fuck he's doing going to London." She huffs.

Evie shoots her a nasty look, "Wonder where he would get the idea that being vague was okay."

She shivers as she looks away, "I-" She closes her mouth.

Damn it.

"It's just not like him." She finishes lamely.

Doug bites his lip as he looks between the two of them, "Have you guys just come out and asked him?"

"I don't want him lying to us on top of everything else." Evie sighs. "And if he didn't come out and tell us, then there's a reason."

"And he'll explain himself when he gets back." She nods.

Didn't mean she had to like it.

Note to self, be more careful around impressionable pups.

Doug clears his throat, "Evie, my beautiful Princess, it's nearly seven. Don't you-"

"OH!" The sewing machine suddenly stops, "Thank you!" She jumps to her feet. "Mal I'll be back in a bit, Fairy Godmother needed me for something. Text me if you hear from him, yes?" She quickly checks her makeup.

"Of course E." She offers with a small smile.

"I'll reset your station for you." Doug offers.

"You're the best," Evie leans up to kiss his cheek, "See you in the boy's room." She adds before she quickly walks out of the room.

"Huh." She studies a blushing Doug who was staring at the door with one hand on his cheek.

"Hi ho." Doug sighs before he shakes his head, "Isn't she something."

"Oh for sure." She snorts."Several somethings in fact."

Doug grins as he starts tidying up Evie's sewing corner.

She watches him for a long moment, "You know, if I touched her sewing shit she'd go ballistic."

"Did you sit through her explanation about her work and how she keeps everything?"

No, no way. No one would actually, she eyes the dwarf before she snorts, "You didn't?"

"Of course I did, and hung on every word." Doug stands up straighter.

She raises an eyebrow, "You're fuckin' insane."

"And allowed to touch her sewing stuff." Doug holds up a finger with a grin, "which means I get to help out."

She shakes her head before she plops back on the bed and continues to watch him for several moments, "You know, she deserves someone like you."

"She deserves the world, but she doesn't need me to help her get it." Doug shrugs, "It's one of the things I lo-" He blinks, "like about her. She doesn't need a prince, she just thought she did."

"We've been tellin' her that for years." She turns to stare at the ceiling. "But she didn't start believing it 'til she met you."

"It's only because I'm not her pack, just reinforcing what you've always told her."

"Maybe." She frowns. Why was she arguing with him? Or telling him this shit?

"But, to be fair, it makes me feel good knowing you think I'm able to help her see herself for how awesome she is, so thanks."

"She deserves someone that can recognize everything she brings to the table."

"Is that permission to hopefully date your best friend?"

She snorts. "I let you in our room- Well, her studio, don't I?"

Doug tilts his head slightly as he looks around the room before he smiles, "You know, that is an excellent point." He pushes his glasses back up his nose before he turns to her, "Thank you, Mal."

"Yeah, well it's only cause I know you'd be more upset than I would if you made her cry."

"Devastated," Doug frowns as he puts a hand over his heart, "to my core."

"Of that, I have no doubt dwarf." She can't help her smile. "Your roommate, however, is gonna get a swift kick to the ass if anything happens to our pup."

"I'd be there holding him down for you, but I promise you, he won't let anything bad happen to him." Doug taps a finger against the table, "He's not adamant about many things, but he is about his friendship with Carlos."

She sighs. "I s'pose it helps to hear the responsible one say that."

"Well, I'd even go so far as to say Carlos brings out the responsibleness in Roy, much as he hates to admit it."

She turns her eyes back on him, "C has a way of doin' that."

Even T was more responsible when the pup was around.

More respectful even.

There was just something about her youngest member that seemed to bring out the best in people.

Even her, if she was being honest with herself.

Carlos had always been an expressive little thing. And his disappointment had always been hard to take.

She takes a deep breath before she lets it out. "Pick out her outfit for tomorrow?"

"I uh-" Doug clears his throat, "I can do that."

"Great, cause I suck at it." There was no way they were sleeping here tonight. That was a great way to have Evie up all night sewing. "I usually have to take like eight things and she somehow comes up with an outfit that doesn't look like any of the shit I brought."

Doug chuckles, "Yeah, I've got ya, Mal."

"Thanks." She breathes out as she picks up her phone and checks it again.

Her brow furrows when she sees a missed text from Fairy GodMother, asking if she can see her in her office.

"What the fuck?" She sighs as she picks herself up off the bed. "Lock up behind you. I'll collect her shit from your room later." She sighs. "I've gotta go deal with some Goblin Shit."

Oh. My. God.

She still couldn't believe it.

Snow White.

Her mother's bane.

Her older step-sister.

Auradon's number one fashion expert.

Wanted to adopt her!

Not only that, but she even promised to adopt Dizzy too.

It was taking everything in her not to squeal with delight.

She was still shaking.

When she'd seen the woman she hadn't known what to think.

She'd been terrified.

Mortified even.

But then- She giggles as she skips down the hall of the boy's dorm.

Then it was like a dream!

God!

She could die happy right now- Well, not quite.

She still had Jay and Carlos' tux to finish.

And Belle's dress to make.

And a new wardrobe for Ben.

And a one for Doug.

And- She blinks.

Okay, well maybe not right now. But still…

She lets out another giddy giggle before she unlocks the door and shuts the door behind her.

She leans against it as she finally lets out the squeal of delight as she claps in excitement.

Jay turns his back on her, pressing his phone against his ear with one hand while the other rubs at his temples.

Oops. She slaps a hand to her mouth.

"Okay, I get it Pup. Just be, you know, careful and shit. And keep Roy close. You've never been so far away, ya know. You're making us nervous 'cause it'll take us time to get to you if something happens. And let me know when you're on your way back or I'll never hear the end of it from the girls."

"Carlos!" She rushes to stand behind Jay at the shot right back down to earth. Her cheeks puff up when Jay lays a hand on her perfectly curled hair, but she stills.

Jay nods before he pulls the phone down and ends the call. "Sorry E." He carefully lifts his hand.

"No, no. That's okay." She reaches up to take his hand. "Is he okay?" She asks in concern.

"Yeah. Yeah, he's fine. He sounds a little nervous, but I mean-" Jay shakes his head, "He found the people his mother hurt and is going to apologize to them."

She blinks up at him, oh. She hadn't even thought to- "Huh."

"Yeah. Pups man. But that's why he needed a ride to London. To talk to people. People he's never met before."

"Ah." She frowns as she squeezes his hand.

"With only Roy if something goes wrong."

She squeezes his hand tighter when she notices his breathing pattern changes.

"But it's okay because it has to be okay. Because I can't do anything about it now."

"Jay," She bites her lip, "Roy won't let anything happen to our pup."

"Roy, the bad stalker, won't let anything happen to our Pup." Jay raises an eyebrow at her, "Sorry, but Roy's no T and I still got angry when T did stupid stuff with C."

"That's… A really good point." She frowns before she steps closer and wraps her arms around Jay as she ducks her head.

She hadn't forgotten there were people still out for them. And the more she thought about it- She swallows.

What if something happened?

What if the people who were after them found him?

What if- Oh god! She squeezes Jay tighter and struggles to take a deep breath.

She couldn't think like that.

She couldn't freak.

Jay was stressed enough as is.

"We need to not spaz out." Jay's arms tighten around her, "Or stop breathing. Because it's gonna be fine."

"Right," She nods before she steps back, "Of course it is." She nods as she takes a handkerchief from her pocket and dabs at her eyes.

When the door suddenly opens she can't help her smile as Jay slides in front of her protectively.

"Guys?" Mal greets with a raised brow before she snaps the door shut.

"Sorry. Just on edge." Jay sighs as he relaxes.

"No word from C then?" She asks with concern as she locks the door.

"Oh, no I talked to him. Pup's about to go talk with Roger and Anita."

Mal turns on her heels, "Pup's doin' what now!?"

"He somehow got it in his head that he has to apologize to the people his mother hurt. I- I mean it's C, so how are you supposed to argue with him when he's had so much time to lay his fuckin' facts out?"

Mal growls as her eyes flicker green. "This is why democracy is dumb."

"M-" She frowns as she crosses her arms over her chest, "Democracy is not dumb-"

"The point is-" Jay interrupts her with a groan, "I told him to be careful and to keep Roy with him, and to let us know when they leave."

Mal huffs as she walks over to Jay's bed and falls onto her back. "Great." She covers her eyes. "Fuck today." She breathes out.

She shares a worried look with Jay before they both walk over to the bed.

"Doug said you got called away by Fairy Godmother when he dropped clothes off earlier, sup?"

She can't help her curious look at Jay, "He brought-"

"Your clothes for tomorrow." Mal finishes. "That last thing you need to be doing is stress sewing all night again. You need to sleep."

She closes her mouth as she pulls out her compact and checks under her eyes, "Is it that obvi- Hey!" She cries as Jay snatches her compact.

"Chill E, you're beautiful, but we don't want you to start freaking out if missing out on sleep does start taking a toll."

"Ah- Bu- I- Uh-"

"Words are helpful." Mal snorts.

She can't help her huff as she crosses her arms and looks away, even as warmth fills her chest at their concern.

It felt nice, and secretly she was happy that they cared so much, even if she just wanted her compact back now.

"Mhmm." Jay walks over to put the compact on one of the shelves out of her reach. "You can have it back tomorrow." He turns to lean against the wall, "Til then…" He looks between the two of them expectantly. "What was with the high pitched squeal, and-" He turns to Mal, "the-"

She bristles as her jaw drops, "I did not squeal."

Jay snorts, "Okay-" He crosses his arms, "The giggling delight then?"

She pouts as a blush covers her cheeks, "It doesn't seem so important now…" She sighs as she crosses her own arms.

"But you seemed excited," Jay counters as he takes a seat on one side of Mal and pats the other side of the bed, "and maybe that's what we need to hear."

"I-" She purses her lips to the side, "It's really not though-" She looks away feeling foolish for her earlier excitement.

She frowns when Mal elbow Jay.

"Yeah, I got it." He rolls his eyes and stands before he walks over to her, "Sorry." He bends, sweeping her into his arms before he takes the spot he'd offered her before.

"Cool." Mal rolls her eyes, "Now, spill. What had you giggling? I promise it's more entertaining than mine."

"I," She picks at a non-existent thread. "I got to meet Snow White-" She smiles.

"Wait," Jay tilts his head to the side, " Isn't Snow White your Mother's Sleeping Beauty?"

She can't help her smile, "Well yes, except she's not a complete sea witch." She bites her lip, "In fact, she was the complete opposite." She can't help her excitement. "She's super nice, and excited to see what I've come up with for your dress." She explains with a glance at Mal, "I knew she was high up in the fashion world- But I never would have guessed that she'd take an interest in me. But Belle wanted to introduce us! And it went wickedly. We bonded so quickly over our thoughts on my mother. Well-" She tilts her head to the side, "our mother, I suppose. And she wants to take me under her wing! Just like Hiro is doing with C! Adopt me- Even better- She said she'd adopt Dizzy when she got over too! And I just- It's so exciting!" She covers her face and lets out a giddy squeal of delight.

"That's great E!" Jay grins as he hugs her tightly.

"Yeah, that's really great actually." Mal blinks up at her as a smile tugs at her lips, "Like, so great."

"That just leaves you now." Jay smiles as he turns to Mal, "Well, you and the rest as they come over. But no worries, David and Nani have been letting me help out with matching VKs to families."

"Actually, about that." Mal pushes herself up, "Fairy Godmother," She takes a deep breath, "Offered to like, adopt me too." She bites her lip. "But after the incident in the cafeteria with Jane…" She groans as she plops back down. "Ugh."

She turns in time to see Jay's excited grin fall to concern.

"Well, she makes a good point…" She frowns. "You are both half fairies, and you could always spell her hair back to how it was."

"Fuck that." Mal snaps. "I'll change it back when she stops humpin' Audrey's leg."

"It's so weird that she's hanging out with her now, Audrey and Chad never gave her the time of day before. And I-" She frowns as her gaze drops to her hands, "I really thought we'd like, bonded with her, you know?"

"Vapid is as vapid does." Mal rolls her wrist with a pout. "I mean, you'd think right?" She huffs, "Then all that shit happened and she ran off with her tail between her legs." She yelps like a dog in pain.

Jay frowns, "Not everyone we thought we were friendly with is going to react like Doug, Lonnie, Roy, and Ben. I think it's like, kind of how gangs were back on the Isle. You tried to get close to Jane at first because of her mother-"

"Ugh-" Mal pulls a pillow over her face. "Dmph rmindth me."

"Wait- like, are you saying that maybe Chad and Audrey managed to convince her that the only reason we were friendly with her is that we had evil motives?"

Mal groans again as she whips the pillow back into place. "Well, they wouldn't be wrong now would they?" She sighs.

Silence settles between them for a long moment.

"It might have started out like that, but then we made a different choice." Jay points out, "And that has to count for something."

"Sure. But it's not like we can come out and say that." Mal huffs.

"Well, no. But you and I could do small things for Jane to let her know we still want to be friends."

"Yeah, cause she'd come within ten feet of me after Sunday." Mal rolls her eyes.

"It might take some time, but we can fix all of this." Jay rubs her shoulder as he watches Mal, "If that's what you want."

"What I want is for you and C-" She glances at her, "And now E, to be happy." She covers her eyes. "I'll figure out what to do with this shit show later- Like after the stupid oath ceremony. Things are stressful as fuck as it is." She breathes out.

She can't help her smile at the admission. Mal had really come such a long way in such a short amount of time. "We want you to be happy too Mal."

"Yeah, and safe."

She nods emphatically.

Mal snorts, "I'm dating the fuckin' Prince, how much safer can I get? I know you guys can feel them too. The damn eyes. They're on us like hawks."

"Oh yeah, there's a detail attached to us. Which means they're attached to Carlos and Roy too." Jay sighs.

Mal sits up and swats Jay, "How the fuck did you forget that."

"It's called anxiety Mal, shut the fuck up."

"Oh no, don't get me wrong. I don't trust them with our pup for a fuckin' minute. I meant that you forgot there was a damn detail." She shivers. "Can't even paint the damn field wall anymore."

"Cause I can feel eyes on me, and C ain't here. I forgot they're attached to all of us. And no, I don't trust 'em either, but at least it's not just him and Roy."

"Unless they're like workin' for the big bads too."

"Mal!" She admonishes.

"And I'll be back." Jay shakes his head as he stands up and sets her down, "Cause nope. Just nope."

"Oh come on, I can't be the only one who thought about that." Mal groans.

"Nope." Jay gestures as if to shove the air in front of him out of the way before he vanishes from the room, slamming the door closed behind him.

"Mal! Your paranoia was bad enough on the Isle, don't bring that here." She chides.

"Eh- I-uh." Mal sputters, "Damn it."

Yo, s'up with you bitches?

Hopefully only good things, but assuming on the circumstances there were a lot of snorts and scoffs at that one.

So, what do you guys think?

Anyone surprised?

*eyes narrow* Did we already spoil this for you guys? Or was that just in Book club? I forget…

Oh, for those of you not in the know, me and Dark do a chat every Friday on FB/youtube, so we like, dubbed it Book Club/Fireside Chat.

Where spoilers occasionally happen due to yours truly. Sometimes by accident, occasionally because prompted. Though now Dark's also on the spoiler train so, yeah… Both of us I guess?

Eh. So not the point…

Right!

Back to the thing- *Ahem*

So, from the top- literally,

Poor pack being worried for their adorable pup.

Talk about being helicopter friends right?

Cute? Too much? Not enough?

At least Mal didn't want to completely strangle Roy- Which trust me, Dark and I talked about it ad nauseum, but came to the conclusion if she was letting Roy chill with C one on one anyways, there had to be some level of trust there.

That and she's (Mal) pretty convinced Roy's desperation will keep him from letting anything happen to Carlos, if nothing else, VKs can sniff out lies like dogs can sniff out meat.

What about Jay's comparison of T and Roy? And Mal's thoughts on it?

I mean, in my opinion, Roy reminds me of a tamer version of everyones fav Hook, but in this instance…

And yeah, that's bout all I got on my end.

Oh, but let me know if you liked/want more things like the cinnamon roll comparisons.

Pretty sure I'm gonna add them sporadically either way, but direction always help me, so yeah, that...

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted