Hey Descendants Fam!

Everyone getting ready for the weekend?

I'm getting ready for an epic D&D night... I love my Druid!

*clears throat*

Moving on...

Last chapter was... well it was...

But there's some good news in this chapter!

And don't forget, if you find yourself hankering for more chapters, we kee ahead of the game by a week. And it might be getting bumped to two weeks here soon. Check out the different monthly tiers and join Cove Club for more fun.

But now, back to the story!

Lots of Love,

-Dark-

He'd done it!

He smiles down at the finalized documents on his desk.

Adoption certificates.

Amended birth certificates.

Everything Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos needed within Auradon to be official citizens.

And everything they would need should Jay and Carlos want to consider dual citizenship with their parent's countries.

Finally.

It had taken so long. Too long, considering how hard he'd been pushing for this.

But finally, it was done.

And he already had staff working on Dizzy, Cici, Freddie, and Anthony's paperwork. Others working on placement options.

And even more working on the rest of the Isle of the Lost's children.

Everyone thirty and under, who they had records of.

He even had a group dedicated to locating or compiling researched records for Faustina.

For her, and anyone on the Isle who didn't have records sent to the council.

Those whose parents attempted to keep them a secret or simply didn't bother to report the births.

He owed Hiro so much.

Like so much, for keeping Leah tied up in that debate.

Sure there had been some objections, but none nearly as loud as hers would have been.

He shakes his head.

That debate.

He was still waiting for the angry backlash from Queen Leah.

Waiting for the next hurdle she would try to put up in front of him.

The fit she was going to throw when she found out what Hiro's shirt actually read.

And how many sold.

Honestly, he was mildly surprised she hadn't attempted to raise any objections once the debate was over.

Or maybe that was simply the fact he'd turned his phone off once he'd gotten the support to finish the paperwork.

He was a king in training.

In training.

He didn't regret immediately leaving the meeting to meet up with his friends.

He checks his watch with a frown.

It had been days since he'd last seen them outside of school.

It felt like weeks since they'd celebrated Hiro's victory with Chinese food, even though it had barely been one.

He knew it was typically rude to visit people so late.

But, he also had no doubt his friends were still up.

And news this good shouldn't have to wait.

Besides, the last time he texted them about news he'd given them all anxiety attacks.

He was in no rush to put them through that again.

So, with that being said-

He grins as he heads to their room, folders neatly tucked away in his bag.

They were just copies of the official documents, but he was excited to see their faces when they figured out what they were looking at. And he figured that it would help their anxiety to have copies, physical proof that the wait was over.

That everything was signed and sealed.

That their parents were no longer the villains that birthed them.

He quickly raps against the door. To no surprise, he finds himself looking up at a confused Jay when the door opens.

"Ben?" Jay tilts his head to the side before he opens the door wider.

"Ben?" Mal repeats somewhere behind him.

"Jay," He greets jovially as he enters the room.

A bright smile pulls at his lip when Mal appears at his side, making it easy for him to snake his arm around her shoulders.

Natural.

Warmth flutters his chest when she covers his hand with hers.

She'd come such a long way in such a short amount of time. Then again- His eyes roam the room- They all had.

How different they were since they'd stepped out of the limo.

How much more open they were.

How their warmth had slowly permeated their perfectly cultivated masks.

"That's your good news face," Mal narrows her eyes up at him even though he could feel her relax into his side.

Jay purses his lips as he folds his arms in front of his chest, "Except you didn't text us first."

"He probably didn't want a repeat of the last conversation text," Carlos shrugs as he sets aside the phone and small tool in his hands and pushes away from the table he was loosely sharing with Evie.

In fact, Evie was the only one who didn't seem interested in his presence, but once he notices the delicate earbuds and her intense focus on her phone, he smiles.

"Ignore E. She's on a Snow kick," Jay explains when his eyes linger.

"All interviews she's ever done with high-end fashion designers." Mal continues with an eye roll.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to sound intelligent with the person you look up to," Carlos says firmly, though he rubs the back of his head.

He chuckles warmly, "No, there isn't." He smiles. "I always do my best to research topics before bringing them to my mother."

Mal blinks up at him, "Seriously?"

"Very," He grins. "Since I was a kid."

"Damn it." Mal bites her lip as she looks away.

He strokes her shoulder with his thumb, "Not that it's necessary. It just makes me feel more confident."

Mal sighs as she shakes her head, "If that's what you have to do, I guess."

Jay snorts, "Tch, fuck that."

"Shut it." Mal snaps.

But before a semi argument can break out, Carlos clears his throat.

"Mal said that was your good news face?"

"Yeah," He grins before he turns to Evie, "Think she'll mind the interruption?"

"Not if it's you doing it," Mal snorts as she twists out of his hold and pushes him forward.

He chuckles before he walks over and taps Evie's shoulder gently, "Evie?"

Evie blinks as she looks up, her eyes widening before she yanks the earbuds off, "Ben! Oh, hi. Sorry."

"Hi," He smiles back, "No need to apologize." He assures her.

"You're right," Evie huffs as she stands up from her chair, turning her glare on the others, "How rude of you guys to not tell me he was here."

"Tch, whatever ya say, princess." Mal rolls her eyes. "He just showed up. It's not like he's been here for hours."

"Oh." Evie's glares softens to a timid smile, "Is everything okay? You've been so busy lately, and you look, well Ben," She stands up straighter, "I say this with love, but you have bags under your eyes and clearly aren't getting your eight hours."

He chuckles, "Not without good reason." He eyes them as they gather around him curiously. His grin widens as he pulls the folders from his bag, "I know this is kind of selfish of me, but-" He shrugs, "I wanted to be the first to show you what I've been working on."

He hands each of them their own color-coded folder, watching as the four open them curiously.

Watches the way their brows furrow in confusion while they scramble to figure out what they're looking at.

Then Carlos's eyes widen as he scans the folder again before looking up, "You did it."

"I did." He grins.

"You did it!" Carlos whoops as he jumps in the air and playfully punches him in the shoulder, "You got it- You, you-"

"Yep." His grin broadens.

"The adoptions are done?" Evie questions before she falls back into her chair, unable to take her eyes off the folder.

"Holy shit!" Mal stares at him, eyes filled to the brim with relief, before her eyes bounce from Carlos to Evie, a genuine smile tugging at her lips.

"You're the best Ben!" Carlos grins as he whips his phone out and starts tapping on the screen.

Jay smiles as he watches Carlos before he reaches out and ruffles his hair, "Just go call them."

"Yeah. Yeah. Much better idea." Carlos pats his leg, "Dude, go for walk?"

He smiles as Carlos and Dude race out of the room, nearly tripping over each other in the process.

"Do they know?" Jay asks quietly.

He blinks, his smile turning sheepish as he rubs the back of his neck. "Uh-"

Mal bursts out laughing, "Ha!"

"Perfect." Jay chuckles as he pulls his phone out, "Can I borrow this?" He asks as he holds the folder up?"

"They're your copies. The official documents are still at my office. I just wanted to make sure you all had your own."

"Wicked." Jay chuckles lightly before he looks him over, shrugs once, and pulls him into a hug, "Thanks, brah."

"Of course," He hugs him back, "Sorry it too-"

"Finish it, I dare you." Mal glares at him.

"I wouldn't." Jay snorts before he releases him, "I'm going to go drop a surprise on David and Nani. You gonna talk to the big FGM Mal?"

"Tch, no." Mal blushes as she crosses her arms and looks away. "It's past curfew. She'd lecture me before I got the words out."

Jay rolls his eyes, "Excuses excuses." He chuckles again before he slips out of the room.

Mal glares in response. "Ass." She growls under her breath before she turns to Evie and watches her before turning back to him. "Think we can go on a drive?"

His eyes light up, "What about-" He begins to tease, only for her to cut him off.

"Finish that, and I end you."

He chuckles, "Well, yes, I'd love to go for a drive." He glances over at Evie, "Evie, would you like to join us?"

Mal.

Always so quietly, seethingly, threateningly thoughtful.

God, how he loved that about her.

His girl.

So small.

So full of rage.

So adorable.

He snakes his arm around her shoulders again.

"Join you?" Evie asks in confusion.

"We're going on a drive," He explains, "Want to swing by-"

"YES!" Evie jumps to her feet before she whirlwinds around the room, "Just give me a second. I can't show up looking like this. Not at this hour."

He chuckles as he pulls Mal with him towards the door, "We can wait just outside for you."

"Kay!" She chirps happily.

He smiles as he shuts the door.

"She's gonna take for-fucking-ever if we're not in there, you know," Mal frowns as she turns to look at the door.

"I actually wanted to have a moment with you." He explains softly as he looks around the empty hallway.

"Oh," Mal turns to him curiously, "ok, I guess you have at least thirty moments before I go in there and stop the catastrophe that is E pickin' out the perfect outfit."

"Fair." He smiles, "I, well, I wanted to talk about, now that the four of you have been officially adopted."

She blinks up at him, "Talk about…" She lifts an eyebrow.

"Well, I know things have been hard for you guys, but I also know how much you and the others want to help when it comes to the rest of the VKs."

She stares at him for a moment, "N- E's coming with me."

He blinks at her, surprised at how quickly she'd figured out what his plan was.

What his mother had pointed out to him.

"You guys did tell me you voted for Evie to be the one who helps me with the campaign, so of course I'll be formally inviting her to the council meetings." He reaches out to take her hand, "So, yes. I would want her to go with us, but I'd really like for us to present a united front, together."

She studies him before she looks away with a small pout as she crosses her arms. "I said with me."

He smiles as he caresses her cheek.

He'd really thought it would take more convincing.

She sighs before she turns to look back at him. "I'mma end up cussing in front of 'em though. And I suck at biting my tongue. And there's nothing I can do about my face if they're stupid. I mean, I'll do my best for like-" She groans as she tilts her head back, "Deez, and the others-" She turns back to him, "But seriously, I sent Jay to talk to my underlings on the Isle. I suck at that type of shit."

"My mother suggested a couple of books. I can get them if you'd like to look them over. She thought it might help you feel more prepared to deal or decide to not deal with things."

"Please," She sighs. "I don't want to look like an ignorant ass hole in front of these pri-people."

Without warning, he pulls her into a tight hug, holding the back of her head to him with one hand, "You could never look like an ignorant ass for the simple fact you care enough to educate yourself. That makes all the difference in the world."

She huffs as she hides into his shoulder and hugs him back, "Shrimpy would do it." She grumbles. "An' like fuck am I letting her have this when she gets over."

He snorts. "I see. So we'll do this then. Work together? The two of us and Evie?"

She nods before she pulls back. "Whatever it takes." She frowns, "Deez worked too hard for me to be a lil' bitch."

"You're many things, Mal," He smiles as he tucks a purple strand behind her ear, "many, many wonderful things. And even a few surprising things. But a little bitch, you are not." He bends forward and lightly kisses her cheek.

She blushes as she looks away before she turns back and kisses him on the lips. "Thank you," The heat from her blush tangible, "For working so hard for this shit."

"We're working hard for this." He reminds her gently, "I'll help you, and I know you'll help me. We'll lean on each other. Think of this as our learning curve."

She frowns as she looks up at him, studying him.

It was what his mother said to him.

That she could see the relationship growing between him and Mal.

Could see the dedication they were slowly growing comfortable with.

True love.

Like his mother and father.

That's what she thought Mal could be for him.

What he was hoping he and Mal could be.

He knew true love wasn't an instant thing. It was something that took work and devotion.

Took time.

Time he was more than willing to invest.

Time he was looking forward to having with her.

"Tch," She scoffs, "As if there was ever another option." A small smile curves on her lips. "We've come way too far, you've carried enough of this shit solo. 'Bout time to step it up. Between us, we'll have them wishin' they hadn't stepped in the first place." She states with the confidence he'd come to love.

"Damn straight we will." He grins as he pulls her into another hug.

It felt so good, knowing they were on the same page.

Knowing he would be able to start relying on her and Evie during the actual meetings, rely on their presence and support.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to-"

"Nah," She shakes her head, "If Jay could dive into counseling blind for the shitiot, I can do the same for the rest of the assholes to get their asses over to carry their own damn weight."

That was his Mal. The girl who couldn't stand the thought of not putting as much into something as those around her were.

Who never realized how much she was already putting into everything.

He chuckles, "Well then, after we visit Snow we can drop by my office and get the books, no time like the present to get started."

She nods firmly, "I'm game. Like fuck am I lettin' Hiro be the only one to one-up these old geezers. They want a fight, they want to argue? I'll happily give them one. VKs don't back down. And like hell am I gonna be the first to start."

Boom.

Officially adopted.

And it only took like 100 chapters.

Paperwork and bureaucracy bull shit.

But, yeah.

It's done.

Happy for them?

Still irate they didn't all end up as part of the Kawanii's Ohana?

Excited to see where the story goes from here?

Much love and shit,

-Twisted

PS was in a mood while writing this and it wasn't a long one anyways, so no fave quote to annoy Dark with.