I didn't know how long me and Ben were lying in silence like this before the door opened and when me, Ben and Evie looked over to the door we watched as Belle entered the room. I couldn't help but note the confused glance she threw at Evie as Evie pulled out her earphones and I watched the confusion drop from her face when she realised what was happening.
"Hello" she said as she stepped up the foot of our bed as Evie also stood up.
"Hello" me and Ben said together.
"I was just wondering whether you three wanted to come down for dinner-" Belle started. "Jay and Carlos are already in the main dining room with your father," she explained.
"Erm-" Ben muttered as he looked at me. "Do you feel up to it?" he questioned sincerely.
"Of course," I smiled. "If anything I feel very well rested" I chuckled.
"As long as you are sure?" he offered, and I could tell by the look in his eye that he was concerned about how I was feeling after my accident. In all honesty I think my father's magic had seen to all of it, yes, I still had an ache in the back of my head, but it seemed to be getting better. But I knew that this still wasn't going to reassure Ben, given the length of time that I was unconscious.
"I am" I confirmed as I threw the covers back and me and Ben slowly climbed out of bed. When we both stood up, we quickly smoothed our hair and clothes down before I slid my right hand into Ben's left and I let him lead me from the room, with Evie and Belle following us - with all of us obviously looking forward to spending some quality family time together.
"Here they are!" Adam said happily as the four of us walked into the main dining room in Auradon Castle.
"Mal, are you sure you should be out of bed?" Carlos questioned slowly.
"Positive" I nodded. "I think I have had enough rest for now Carlos" I advised as Ben dropped my hand before he pulled my chair out for me as Evie and Belle also took to their seats.
"You had us worried there Mal" Jay stated as I dropped into my seat and Ben pushed it in for me.
"Sorry everyone" I said to them all as Ben dropped into the seat next to me on my right-hand side.
"You will be" Ben teased as he slid his left hand into my right under the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. This made me smile at Ben for a few seconds before I pushed my face forward and I pressed a kiss against his left cheek. When I broke apart, we both smiled at each other before we looked over to our family to see them all smiling at us.
We all then went on to have a lovely family meal together, and thankfully we talked about anything apart from my accident and what happened at Beauty Castle. I was grateful that we were at least able to put this behind us for a few hours - as I knew that Leah was probably brewing something. But I was ready for whatever she had to throw at me, I was going to show her that she couldn't push me around any longer - and she would come to learn this, the hard way.
After we shared a lovely family meal together me, Ben, Adam, and Belle then all followed Evie, Jay, and Carlos to the main hall to see them out. Ben had arranged for Dawson to take them all home, and before they left, they the three of them all hugged me separately they all also promised that they would ring me tomorrow to check on how I was. I told them that I would like that, even though I felt perfectly fine; it seemed that I was getting better with my family and Ben looking after me. Yes, it still felt a little bit strange to me, but at least it was getting better as time went on.
After the four of us watched the door close behind Evie, Jay, and Carlos we then decided to go and watch some TV before going to bed. During the walk to Adam and Belle's suite it was decided that me and Ben would stay in their suite for the night, as things still weren't really settled with our new living arrangements under this proposition that was currently hanging over us.
When we got to the living room quarters that were in Adam and Belle's suite in the left wing of Auradon Castle, Ben and I cuddled together on the couch as his parents cuddled together on the couch across the way. I couldn't help but sigh as I snuggled into Ben's chest, I heard him chuckle at me which made me slowly look up at him and we shared a loving look before we cuddled together. I didn't want it to end, but unfortunately all things must come to an end.
"Don't be too long you two" I heard Belle call after me and Ben walked into my bedroom, as Belle stood in the doorway.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ben teased as we both sat down on the right-hand side of the bed.
"Well if we leave you too long, we will only have to wake you up Ben" Belle teased with a playful glance. "Sorry" she quickly apologised. "But you need to follow the proposition until we can investigate further" she reminded us as she pursed her lips together.
"I know," Ben sighed. "So, I guess this is good night" he said sadly as he looked down at me.
"I suppose so" I sighed back. "Don't worry Ben-" I started. "We will get through this; and before we know it it will just be a difficult memory in our past" I offered hoping that this would not only reassure Ben but myself also.
"Yeah" he grinned. "That's my girl" he said proudly as he pulled me into a hug as Belle spun around and left us to give us some privacy as we said our goodnights.
"So, where's my goodnight kiss Benny?" I teased playfully as I pulled away and looked up at him.
"Here it is," he smirked at me. He then quickly pushed his face forward and pressed his hungry lips against mine; and before I knew it, we were falling into a series of long and loving kisses. The more time that went by the more Ben's arms tightened around me as my hands eagerly ran through his hair before snaking around his neck and pulling him tightly against me. When the need to breathe assaulted us for the eighth time we broke apart and smiled at each other as we attempted to regulate our breathing.
"Come back here" I giggled after we had been gazing lovingly in his eyes for a few seconds. I watched as my favourite grin spread across his face once more before I crushed my lips against his once more. The kiss may have only lasted for a few seconds, but it still felt perfect and when we broke apart, I couldn't help but note how smug Ben looked.
"Look at you," I teased. "You're a very smug beast" I giggled as I started to trace patterns with my thumbs against his shirt.
"I always will be when I have you by my side" he purred happily. "My playful dragon" he flirted as he slid his hands onto both of my sides which made me freeze in his hands.
"No!" I exclaimed. "Don't!" I begged.
"What?" he asked mock innocently.
"You know what" I warned him.
"You mean this" he grinned, and I started to feel shivers run up and down my spine as he started to tickle my sides. The room then fell into the noises of me shrieking and giggling as I tried to move away from Ben to no avail, I was actually surprised that neither Adam nor Belle came to see what the pair of us were doing due to the amount of noise - but thankfully they didn't.
"Ben!" I exclaimed. "Stop!" I giggled. "Please?" I begged as I started to slide away from him, but he only slid further onto the bed with me. I started to think about what was going to help me get out of this situation but then my mind showed me a past conversation that me and Ben had shared, and I hoped that it was going to work. "I love you, you magnificent Beast" I panted, and I watched as his eyes lit up. I sighed in relief when his hands stopped with their assault on my sides, and before I could say or do anything Ben quickly pressed his lips against mine. As this kiss went on, I felt my bed behind me which told me that me and Ben had shifted our positions while kissing and we were both lying on our sides as we made out. I quickly let Ben deepen the kiss as I clung to him eagerly and I grinned when we broke apart and I found Ben was on top of me.
"You remembered?" he panted as he used both of his hands to push up, so his face was just inches above mine.
"Yes" I panted back. "Of course," I flirted as I used my arms and legs to pull him back down on top of me. "Come here" I purred. "I want a hug before you go" I advised as I snuggled my face against his right shoulder.
"You can always have a hug" I heard him purr back which made me tighten both my arms and legs around him. The room then fell into silence as we just enjoyed sharing this tight embrace, and time was against us yet again. As before we knew it Adam called to us which made me, and Ben very reluctantly pulled apart from each other and sat up. Ben then quickly pressed a quick kiss against my lips before he slid off the bed and stood up. I then watched as he slowly watched towards my bedroom door, but before he left the room he turned and gave me a very loving look which made me smile at him. He then winked at me before he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him, and leaving me thankful that we were both able to share a private moment. Even though it was very brief what was currently getting me through this that was hopefully it wouldn't before long before this sorry mess was just all a distant memory.
When I walked out of my bathroom and into my bedroom, I couldn't help but sigh when my eyes landed onto my bed. I hated the fact that Ben wasn't waiting there for me, we should be living our lives as a newly engaged couple. I hated that this had been taken away from us; something of which I didn't think I would be able to forgive Leah or the rest of the 'Order' for.
As I stood at the left-hand side of my bed, I quickly pulled the covers back before turning on the bedside lamp before I turned the main light off. I then slowly climbed into bed, pulled the covers over myself and placed my phone onto my bedside cabinet onto its charger.
As I lay down in bed I then looked up at the ceiling and my mind then started to think about what I could do to try and do something to make it a little bit better for Ben - especially following the aftermath of my accident.
However, I was broken out of my train of thought as I heard my phone go off and when I looked over to my phone I smiled when I saw that Ben was facetiming me. I reached over and picked my phone up and I readjusted myself in bed for a couple of seconds before I answered the call.
"Hello" I smiled after he appeared on my screen.
"Hello" he answered happily as I noted that he was sitting up topless in his bed next door.
"I'm guessing that you haven't quite said goodnight yet" I teased.
"I thought I had-" he grinned. "But we normally speak more before bed," he reminded me.
"That tends to be because we are in bed together," I said back.
"Yes" he said as he pursed his lips together. "I really hate this Mal," he admitted.
"Me too" I agreed and then an idea came to me. "Hang on-" I stated. "See if this makes it better" I advised as I unplugged my phone from the wall and I placed my phone down onto the bed.
"What?" I heard as I then slid over the other side of the bed and quickly plugged the charger back in and I placed the charger onto the pillow on the right-hand side of the bed. I then rolled onto my left-hand side and balanced my phone onto its case.
"There" I smiled. "Now at least you have the same view as you would if you were actually here" I offered.
"You think of everything," he grinned again. "I'll do the same" he suggested, and I watched as he mirrored my actions and rolled onto his right-hand side and balanced his phone and charger in the same manner. "Marginally better," he noted.
"How so?" I questioned.
"Well, I would prefer you to be here with me" he told me.
"Me too baby" I agreed. "But we need to be patient" I added as I pursed my lips together.
"Meh!" he exclaimed as he pulled a funny face at this, which made me giggle at this. "It will be worth it in the end my love" he offered simply. "Anyway-" he started obviously wanting to change the subject. "Let's talk about something else" he stated.
"Like what?" I questioned.
"Anything to keep our minds from our current situation" he advised.
"Hmmm" I purred. "I know what we could talk about" I advised as a thought came to me.
"What?" he questioned.
"What other French wedding traditions do I need to be made aware of?" I enquired.
"Mal we don't need to do them" he advised.
"I know," I replied. "But I like the fact that we are staying true to your heritage" I stated. This was the truth. I loved that we could stay true to Ben's French heritage and of course I wanted to keep some French tradition in our wedding. Especially as I knew that the families that I came from didn't have any family traditions to offer - the last thing my mother's or father's families thought about was love, marriage, and weddings. "I don't really think my evil family have any" I stated. "And if they do, I really don't think they would be appropriate for us" I finished.
"Probably not no" he agreed as he pursed his lips together.
"So-?" I prompted him.
"Well, there is one where the bride isn't seen as the centre of attention on the wedding day, instead the focus is on two families coming together" he explained.
"Hmmm" I hummed. "Well, I kind of have mixed feelings on that one" I admitted.
"How so?" he asked.
"Well, you know my feelings on being in the spotlight Benny" I answered. "And I wouldn't want our wedding day to just be about me, it's about us" I urged, and I watched as a large smile spread across his face. "Where my mixed feelings come from is that our wedding isn't going to be like a normal wedding is it?" I stated.
"What do you mean?" he enquired.
"Well, there is going to be some differences-" I began. "Like no mother of the bride" I said. "She would never come to our wedding," I added. "Sorry, she would to ruin it" I sighed sadly as I started to imagine the different ways that my mother would try and ruin mine and Ben's wedding.
"Mal try not to fixate on your mother" he said smoothly. "She isn't going to affect our wedding day" he told me.
"Easier said than done Benny" I replied.
"I know," he answered.
"At least I have my brothers," I replied. "And half-sister" I smiled.
"Yes" he agreed, and I started to think about the conversations that me and Evie shared with Hades today which made me realise another obvious change for mine and Ben's wedding.
"And I don't think my father can walk me down the aisle-" I stated.
"I don't know if that could happen," he answered. "I could look into it though," he offered.
"Really?" I asked slowly.
"Yes" he nodded. "He would have to be magically bound; and we would need to get Zeus on side" he suggested.
"Yeah" I agreed. "I can see a lot of mediation," I noted.
"Me too," he said. "The only way Hades and Zeus will get better is if they talk," he added.
"True" I agreed. "Anyway-" I stated hoping to move the conversation from my mother and father. "What other traditions are there?" I enquired.
"Well normally French weddings don't have bridesmaids, best men or wedding cakes" he advised.
"Really?" I asked slowly. "Why?" I spoke.
"I don't know," he shrugged. "But I am assuming they are things you want," he advised.
"Yes" I nodded. "Don't you?" I questioned.
"Yeah" he nodded. "I just don't know who to pick," he added. "Az or Chad" he advised.
"Well how about a counter proposal?" I started to suggest.
"Ok" he said. "Go on" he prompted.
"Why don't you have both?" I offered.
"Both?" he said slowly.
"Yes" I nodded. "They both mean a great deal to you, so why don't you ask both?" I spoke. "I think we have both proven that we don't do things normally, we do things on our terms" I reminded him. "If you don't want the hassle of choosing just one of them then have both" I finished and I watched as a large smile spread across his face.
"I love it when you fix my problems," he replied happily.
"That is what I am here for my love" I smiled back. We then went on to talk about other things that we would need to plan for our wedding, we decided to stick to the colour scheme of mainly blue and purple, but we also wanted flickering's of yellow and green to be there also. Ben insisted that there had to be strawberries on our wedding cake somehow, which made me giggle. I couldn't help but note how having these conversations was making me feel, it was making our wedding seem more real. Of course, it was a real thing, but actually planning it made it feel more definite. There was one thing that I wanted to make very known though, usually it was the bride that made most of the decisions, but I didn't want it to be the case for mine and Ben's wedding. I wanted Ben very much involved in most of the decision planning, apart from obvious things like my wedding dress. And this is how I wanted our wedding and marriage to go, me and Ben making decisions together, and this is how it was always going to be.
Hey guys, first of all I would like to say sorry for not updating this story since last July. The reason why this was the case was that I was working on other stories to make sure that I will be able to get other series completed so in the long run I will be able to work on this particular story. I really can't wait to see what you guys think, fingers crossed the next update won't be as long next time.
Much love,
RaInBoWsKuLlDrOpS
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.