Content warning for suggested smut and lemons in this chapter.

Just like we expected, after we had been cuddling in silence for a length of time, we started to share some sweet kisses that soon turned into a very heated make out session. And before I knew it me and Ben shifted positions, so Ben was on top of me, and we were slowly making love on the stone platform at the Enchanted Lake. I loved just giving myself over to Ben like this as held me tightly with a look of pure devotion in his eyes. However, I couldn't help but note how making love like this meant me feel, it felt final almost. As if we were saying goodbye in one way - to our sex life until our wedding night. Yes, me and Ben's relationship wasn't built upon on our sex life, there was so much more to our relationship than that. But I couldn't lie to myself when I said I wasn't going to miss being intimate with Ben because I was going to.

After we had finished making love, we held each other tightly, with me cuddled into his chest. We both just looked up at the sky, just enjoying the rest of this private moment together, but we had to return back to our tortured reality.

"Well, we knew that was going to happen" Ben chuckled as he straightened his tie after we had sorted ourselves and our clothes out so no one would be able to tell what the pair of us had been up to.

"Of course, we did" I giggled back as I smoothed my skirt down. "By saying that-" I added. "Given our record we can't just have sex just the once" I smirked as I smoothed my hair down.

"Nope" he grinned before he moved his face closer to mine and he pressed a brief but loving kiss against my lips. When we broke apart, we both smiled lovingly at each other, I really loved my Beast, and I knew that I would never ever be able to get enough of him.

"Hey!" I giggled. "Come back here" I teased, and I used his tie to pull him back to me and we shared a long and loving kiss. When we broke apart, we smiled at each other again and I noticed that Ben's crown was not on his head.

"Oh" I muttered.

"What?" he questioned in confusion.

"Your crown" I replied.

"Yes" I nodded as he started to quickly look around and his face dropped when he couldn't see it. "It should be around here somewhere" he quickly added. "We better find it, otherwise I am in a lot of trouble" he finished sadly in panic.

"Yep" I answered as I quickly looked around to see if I could find his crown; and I smiled when I saw it on the riverbank, half in and half out of the water.

"Oh" I muttered as I slowly stood up. "There it is" I told him as I walked towards the edge of the stone platform before slowly climbing down onto the grassy riverbank below. As I started to slowly walk towards his crown I couldn't even remember when I knocked Ben's crown off, but I quickly dismissed this thought - as I put this down to how unobservant I can get when I gave myself over to my very dashing fiancé.

When I got to Ben's crown, I slowly bent down to pick it up and when my skin touched the cold metal, I felt a tingle which made me shudder. I went to look up at Ben, but I stopped when I felt an explosion come from the crown and I was flung back. I froze in shock as I was taken off my feet and I flew through the air backwards. However, I suddenly came to an abrupt stop when I hit something cold and hard, and the back of my head erupted into pain as I heard some wood behind me snap and break. I went to call out to Ben, who was looking at me in shock, but I was stopped as my eyes suddenly became heavy and as my eyes started to roll, I was quickly dragged into a very painful and bewildering darkness.

*Ben's POV*

"Oh" I heard Mal mutter as she stood up. "There it is," she told me as she walked towards the edge of the stone platform before climbing down onto the grassy riverbank below. I then saw her walk towards my crown before she bent down to pick it up as I stood up. As her left hand touched my crown I watched as she pulled one brow up in confusion, I was just about to call out to her, but I stopped when I heard an explosion before Mal was thrown backwards and she landed harshly against a tree on the riverbank and landed in a heap with her arms in front of her face. I froze in shock at what had happened; but what made me panic even more is the fact that Mal wasn't moving.

"Mal!" I called down to her as I jumped down from the stone platform. "Come on Mal!" I shouted, hoping that this was going to end up being one of Mal's jokes. "Mal!" I muttered as my face dropped in horror as I ran up to her, but I stopped to quickly pick up my crown along the way. However, when I pulled my crown out of the water, I noticed a light blue and purple magical flourish to erupt into the air, which made my face fall into confusion - why on Auradon did that happen? I quickly dismissed this quickly as it was the Enchanted Lake after all.

As I ran over to Mal, I quickly pulled my crown onto my head and when my eyes landed onto Mal my face dropped in horror and shock once more. She looked like she was just asleep, however there was blood running down the back of her neck that was now running down the right-hand side of her neck, which made me gasp.

"Mal" I muttered. "MAL!" I shouted as I crouched down next to her. "Please?" I begged. "Wake up" I said as a lump started to form in my throat as I shook her right shoulder with my left hand. "MAL!" I shouted again in panic as I quickly pulled my phone out and I quickly rang Dawson.

"Your Majesty?" I heard him answer after a handful of rings. "Are you ready to come back?" he enquired politely.

"Dawson there has been an accident-'' I started as I felt tears start to build up in my eyes as the pain of seeing my soulmate like this was tearing through me. "Mal is hurt" I gulped. "I'm going to carry her to where you dropped me off," I advised him.

"Is she ok?" he asked in concern.

"She's unconscious" I explained as I never took my eyes from her.

"Oh" he muttered. "Right" he noted. "Well by the time you get there I will be there" I heard him say.

"Ok" I muttered. "Thank you, Dawson," I was quick to add before I quickly hung up on him. I then quickly put my phone back into my blazer pocket. I then slid myself closer to Mal and I slowly and carefully rolled her onto her back before quickly and carefully pulling her into a bridal hold. As I stood up straight, I took in the sight of her lying motionless in my arms, it took my mind back to a few days ago when I was carrying her back to bed after she had fallen asleep in my lap. However, this moment was nothing like that loving moment days ago - there was a worrying undercurrent to what was currently happening - and the longer that Mal didn't wake up the more panicked I was getting.

As I started to slowly carry her towards the trees, I felt the Beast part of me roar within me, and I had to suppress a shudder that was trying to engulf me. It wasn't a time to change right now, it was a time to get Mal to Doctor Cameron. She needed help, and this is what was currently getting me through right now. I just hoped that when I got to the main road just off the dirt track that Dawson would be there, just like he promised.

After a longer walk (that I hoped) through the forest, over the bridge and through the trial I couldn't help but sigh in relief when the road started to come into view. However, this didn't really dispel all of my concern, as Mal still hadn't woken up yet.

When I got to the road my face lit up when I saw that Dawson was standing next to my royal limo, with the right sided passenger door open. I couldn't help but watch his face drop into concern when his eyes landed on Mal, and he ran forward to help me carry Mal to the car.

Thankfully we were able to quickly and carefully get Mal into the car and on the side seats with her head on my lap. As Dawson closed the door behind him, I wrapped my arms around my Dragon before I pressed a kiss against her right temple.

As the car pulled away, I felt tears start to flow down my cheeks as this moment became too much for me, and I pulled my phone back out of my blazer pocket and began to ring my father.

"Ben?" I heard him say after the phone had rang just a couple of times. "Are you and Mal ok?" he quickly asked.

"I am" I cried as I used my left hand to wipe the tears from my eyes and cheeks.

"What about Mal?" I heard him answer as I swept some hair out of Mal's face.

"She was ok" I muttered.

"But she's had an accident"

I quickly told my father everything that had happened, obviously leaving mine and Mal's love making, and I advised that we were quickly travelling to Auradon General Hospital. My father advised that he would meet me there with my mother, and he also promised that he would ring Evie and let her know - as she, Jay and Carlos would want to be there for Mal too.

Thankfully after I ended the call with my father the limousine pulled to a stop outside the entrance of Auradon General. I expected Dawson to quickly open the door, but I watched through the window as he ran into the emergency department - obviously wanting to get Mal some help.

Minutes later I watched as Doctor Cameron with his team ran out of the department with a stretcher, with Dawson running after them. Doctor Cameron quickly opened the door, before jumping into the car, and when his eyes landed on Mal his face dropped before he knelt in front of her.

"I need you to tell me what happened" he stated as I helped him and a member of his team get Mal out of the car and onto the waiting stretcher.

"Of course, Doctor Cameron" I answered as I climbed out of the car and started to follow them all into the emergency department, however when I went to follow them into Recus a member of staff walked up to me.

"Your Majesty?" a tall dark brown-haired girl in dark blue scrubs said as she stood in front of me.

"Yes?" I answered as I unwillingly tore my eyes away from Mal.

"Why don't you go into the family room?" she suggested.

"No!" I explained. "I'm not leaving her!" I stressed. I really couldn't believe they would want me to leave the room! Mal was my soul mate, she was going to be my Queen and I was not going anywhere!

"She is in good hands" the member of staff told me reassuringly.

"I know that" I advised as I pursed my lips together. "But I can't leave her" I added as tears began to form in my eyes. "I promise I won't get in the way; I just don't want to leave her!" I cried as tears started to flow down my cheeks.

"Your Majesty" she began to implore.

"No!" I stressed. "I am not leaving, instead of arguing with me help Mal!" I demanded and I watched as she meekly nodded.

"Sorry" I quickly apologised. "It's just she means the world to me" I added as I looked over to Mal.

"I get that" she said, which made me look back down at her. "It's ok your Majesty" she smiled warmly before she quickly spun around to go and assist Doctor Cameron and the rest of their team. I took in a couple of deep breaths as I pursed my lips together as I looked at the peaceful face that was currently on my perfect Dragon's face. I felt the Beast part of me roar within me as I continued to feel my heart break at the sight of Mal still not waking up. And the longer that she was unconscious for I couldn't stop the thought of losing her continuing to consume me.

I didn't know how long I was stood in silence watching Doctor Cameron and his team continue to work on Mal before my parents stepped into recus and stepped behind me.

"What happened?" I heard my mother say as she slid her right hand against my left shoulder.

"We were at the Enchanted Lake-" I began to explain as I looked down at her. "My crown fell off when we were kissing," I continued. "Mal reached to get it and was thrown backwards!" I cried as tears flowed down my cheeks once more. "She hit a tree; and she hasn't woken up since!" I exclaimed and I started to sob.

"Hey!" my mother cooed as she pulled me into a hug. "Everything is going to be ok" I heard her say as she held me tightly.

"How can you know that?" I cried. "She hasn't woken up, that's not good!" I sobbed as I heard the door open and when I pulled apart from my mother I watched as a very startled looking Evie, Jay and Carlos enter the room.

"What happened?" Evie asked for the three of them as they all looked over to Mal, with concern and despair flowing from their tear-filled eyes.

After we were all taken to the family room, I then quickly explained to the three of them everything that happened since Mal picked up my crown up at the Enchanted Lake. I hated lying to them, but I thought that at the moment I thought it was for the best that I kept out the argument with Leah, the proposition and Mal turning into the Dragon out of the equation for the time being. My main concern at the moment was about Mal not waking up, and making sure that she was safe and ok when she did. And even though they were Mal's family, I thought that this should be Mal's decision to tell them about her changing into a Dragon. And if Mal wanted to tell them everything else that had happened then this was going to have to come from her, away from prying ears.

"Why aren't they telling us what is going on?" Jay snapped as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Because they are working on her" I heard Evie say.

"They will tell us when they are ready," my mother interjected.

"I know" I sighed as I stepped into the right-hand corner of the room so I could have some time on my own. "But I want to know now" I advised sadly.

"We all do" Carlos offered and the room then fell into silence.

"Ben-" Evie said as she walked up to me. "What is really going on?" she questioned, and I had to resist the urge to sigh at how observant Evie was. The problem I now have is not saying anything that Mal might want to keep to herself for now, as Evie did have a gift of being able to get things out of people.

"What do you mean?" I questioned innocently.

"I can tell that you are hiding something" she said and we both shared a stern glance.

"Evie please?" I whined.

"I know that you are going through a lot," she reminded me. "But we can't help you if you don't tell us," she told me sincerely.

"I get that" I answered. "I really do, I appreciate it," I added. "But right now, I can't concentrate on anything else apart from the fact that Mal hasn't woken up yet" I admitted sadly.

"Ok" she nodded. "I'll not push you," she offered.

"Thank you" I meekly smiled, and I watched as she opened her mouth to say something but stopped when the door opened, and Doctor Cameron stepped into the room.

"How is she?" my mother quickly asked for us all as Doctor Cameron closed the door behind him.

"Is she awake?" I asked as I took a step forward.

"She is the same as you last saw her, your Majesty" he advised, and I sighed as I shook my head in disbelief. "We have tended to the wound and we are about to send her for an MRI scan" he explained.

"Shouldn't she have woken up by now?" Jay asked.

"Well, it depends on the head trauma really" Doctor Cameron replied. "It was quite a force; but we will get to the bottom of this" he urged.

"Can I see her?" I asked hopefully. "Before she goes for her scan" I quickly added.

"Of course," Doctor Cameron smiled.

"Do you mind if I come with you?" Evie asked.

"No come" I meekly smiled. "She will like it" I told her. The room then fell into silence once more as me and Evie followed Doctor Cameron from the room, with me being very nervous at what I was about to find.

Me and Evie were then led into a side room by Doctor Cameron, and I couldn't help but pull one brow up in confusion at the fact they had moved Mal. I quickly dismissed this as I knew why they had done this, so Mal could be kept away from prying eyes. However, this train of thought dispelled from the forefront of my mind when my eyes landed on Mal.

The staff had changed her into a light blue hospital gown and there was now a bandage wrapped around her head obviously keeping the pad at the back of her head in place. Apart from that she looked like she was just asleep with her lips slightly parted, her breathing regular and with her hair slightly fanned out on the bed around the bandages.

"Her clothes are in that bag" I heard a voice say and the same member of staff that I had spoken to earlier stepped forward and pointed to a plastic bag that was in the chair that was on the right-hand side of Mal's bed.

"Ok" Evie nodded. "I'll take them" she advised as she stepped forward and picked the bag up.

"Your Majesty" the member of staff said, and I looked away from Mal and looked over to her.

"Yes?" I replied politely.

"For the scan we needed to remove her jewellery" she stated.

"Right?" I prompted her.

"Would you like to remove her rings and necklace?" she offered. "We would have done it but as you are here, we thought you might want to do that" she stated.

"Ok" I nodded. "Thank you" I meekly smiled as I stepped up to the left-hand side of the bed. I had to resist the urge to cry as I slowly picked up her left hand, I bent down slightly, and I pressed the back of her hand against my left cheek before I pressed a prolonged kiss against it. I then took a couple of deep breaths to steady myself as I slowly and carefully removed my signet ring from her left index finger and slid it back onto my right wedding ring finger. I then had to push a lump away that was trying to form in my throat as I removed her promise and engagement ring from her wedding ring finger, and I slid them onto my left little finger. When I looked down at my left hand it felt so wrong to see them on my hand, never mind removing them from her.

My eyes then caught the locket that I bought for her and I felt as if my heart was about to break even further at the fact that I was about to remove that. So, before I could fixate on my current despair, I carefully slid the chain around until the catch became visible and I quickly undone it and removed the necklace from her. I then quickly wrapped it around my neck and quickly fastened it before sliding it underneath my shirt.

Admittedly this was a hard thing to do but the fact that I was now wearing her jewellery helped, even if it was only slightly.

"As soon as she comes back, I want to put these back on" I advised as I stood up straight.

"Of course," Evie replied.

"What about her bracelet?" I asked the member of staff as my eyes caught her hand fasting bracelet and my stomach started to burn at the fact that I might have to remove that also.

"That should be ok, it's not a metal that will interfere with the machine" the member of staff answered as she looked over to Mal's wrist.

"Ok" I nodded, and I watched as she quickly turned and left the room. "This feels wrong, taking them off her like that" I admitted as I looked over to Evie.

"You are only holding them for her" she stated, obviously trying to reassure me. "It won't be long before you are putting them back on her" she quickly added.

"I hope so" I said as I pursed my lips together. I looked down at Mal and I slid her left hand into both of mine as Evie took hold of her right. I then smiled meekly at her as I reached forward with my left hand and I swept some hair from her face.

"Come on baby!" I said as I felt the familiar lump start to form in my throat. "You need to wake up!" I begged. "I love you so much Mal!" I cried as tears started to form in my eyes. "Please wake up? "I pleaded as the cool tears started to run down my cheeks.

"Hey!" Evie cooed. "Ben," she added, trying to get my attention. "Come on, she is going to be ok" I heard her say, which made me look over to her.

"I hope so" I repeated. "I really do hope so" I stressed before I reached forward and pressed a brief kiss against her forehead. "Come on Dragon" I muttered as I smiled down at her. "My beautiful Dragon" I added lovingly as I stroked her left cheek with my right thumb. I then heard the door open again, which made me sigh. The fact that the door was opening meant that Mal had to go for her scan, and I didn't want to leave her.

"Your Majesty," Doctor Cameron said politely. "Dame Evie" he added as we both looked over to him. "We really need to take her now," he advised.

"Ok" I nodded before I looked down at Mal and I quickly bent down and pressed a prolonged kiss against her forehead. And when I pulled away I couldn't help but remember the same prolonged kiss Mal gave me on my forehead today, it felt like a lifetime ago - even though it was only a matter of hours ago!

"Come on Mal" I urged. "Come back to us, we are all a mess without you" I told her, and the room filled into silence as me and Evie watched as Doctor Cameron and one of his nurses wheeled Mal out of the room.

"She will be ok," Evie said as the door closed behind them. "Mal's a fighter" she reminded me as I looked down at her.

"Yeah" I replied meekly. "Yeah, she is" I smiled meekly as my mind went onto my Dragon. I just hoped that her scan was going to give us some answers. I hated not knowing what was going on or not knowing how I could help Mal. She is my world, my reason to breathe. And the moment she woke up I was going to make sure that I never took every single second that I have with her, even with this proposition that was hanging over us. This situation was actually making me more adamant to try and get me and Mal out of this whole sorry mess, yes I was determined before Mal's accident - but right now I was driven to ensure that I got Mal through it. As losing her was never, ever going to be an option!